Miscreants set fire to a Grameen Bank branch office at Dogachi Bazar in Pabna early Wednesday, damaging its signboard and front section.
According to locals, a group of youths chanting “Joy Bangla” slogans poured petrol on the office and set it ablaze around 12:30am.
Witnesses said the attackers first set fire to the bank's signboard, smashed the office's glass panels and then poured petrol on the front section before fleeing.
Night guard Abdul Wahab, who was inside the office, raised the alarm after seeing the flames. The property owner, bank employees and locals rushed to the scene and brought the fire under control, preventing major damage.
The assistant general manager of Grameen Bank's Pabna zonal office, Asaduzzaman, confirmed the incident, saying no important bank documents were damaged. The bank was preparing to file a complaint with police.
Pabna Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Tarikul Islam said a police patrol team visited the scene after receiving information about the incident. Police returned in the morning to collect evidence, and legal action was underway.