A group of young men in an attack vandalised several shops in Sylhet’s Housing Estate on Thursday night over a trifling matter.
Police said an altercation between two men led to a scuffle on Thursday evening after a car on the Housing Estate street hit some rickshaws, causing those to tilt to one side. Locals later intervened and stopped the fight.
But hours later, a band of young men arrived in the area on some 50 motorcycles, and attacked shops with machetes and rods while chanting the Joy Bangla slogan.
The 20-minute attack panicked locals and the attackers left after police arrived on the scene. Councillor Rezaul Hasan Kayes Lodi, local Awami League leader Matiur Rahman Mati and several other influential men also came.
Kayes Ahmed, owner of Sonia Restaurant which came under attack, said attackers vandalised his shop and took away the cash box that had Tk8,000 in it. Nahida Nazmin, who owns a tailor shop, said her staff, who are all females, were very frightened when the attack was made.
“They not only vandalised my shop but also hurled bricks inside,” she said.
Addition Deputy Commissioner Rahmat Ullah, spokesperson for Sylhet Metropolitan Police, said locals settled the trivial matter and the situation was under control.
