BNP leaders and activists have taken control of the former office of local MP and former Railway Minister Md Mujibul Haque in Chauddagram Sadar, Comilla, renaming it Shaheed Ziaur Rahman (Bir Uttam) Hall.
According to local sources, in late 2019, Mujibul Haque, the former MP of Comilla-11 (Chauddagram), took possession of an abandoned hall room belonging to a defunct Union Parishad (UP) in Chauddagram Sadar. Shortly after, he renovated it and turned it into his personal office, reports Prothom Alo.
The property, originally owned by the Comilla District Council, served as Mujibul’s base whenever he visited Chauddagram from early 2020. It also hosted various political meetings of the ruling Awami League during his tenure as an MP.
Attempts to reach Mujibul Haque for comments via phone and WhatsApp were unsuccessful.
On August 5, following the fall of the Awami League government, agitated locals and students vandalized Mujibul Haque’s office. Since then, the former MP, who is also the General Secretary of Comilla South District Awami League, and his followers have remained absent from the area.
On August 17, local BNP leaders and activists occupied the office, repairing the doors and windows and renaming it after BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.
According to local witnesses, the takeover was led by Harunur Rashid, convener of Chauddagram Municipality BNP, and his faction. Rashid confirmed the occupation, claiming they had “reclaimed” the office and placed it under their control. He also mentioned that they were willing to return the office to the government if asked.
During a visit to the site, it was observed that the one-story tin-shed building, located along the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway, was adorned with BNP banners and posters. Next to the hall room, a three-story shopping mall is under construction by the Chauddagram Municipality.
In 2003, the Chauddagram Sadar Union Parishad was dissolved, and its office and hall room were abandoned.
Mujibul Haque took over the hall room in 2019 and renovated it into his office, using it as his main campaign base during the 12th National Parliament Election.
Harunur Rashid said that after August 5, several political factions attempted to seize control of the office. To prevent further disputes, they renamed the hall room after Ziaur Rahman.
In response, Chauddagram Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Rahmat Ullah said: “This issue had not come to our attention due to ongoing tasks. However, necessary action will be taken soon. Public property cannot be legally occupied for political use.”
