Members of the National Citizen Party (NCP) in Chattogram this evening allegedly vandalised and took over an Awami League (Chattogram district north unit) office in the city's Kotwali area.

The incident took place on the 4th floor of Dost Building, opposite the Bangladesh Post Office in the port city, at around 6:00 pm.

Till the filing of this report, police were present at the spot.

NCP leaders alleged that members of the banned Chhatra League and Awami League, whose political activities have been banned, had been using the office at night to dodge law enforcement agencies and plot arson attacks across the city.

Dost Building is one of the oldest buildings in the port city, housing offices of various political organisations, including BNP, AL, and others.

Witnesses and police sources said a group of 40 to 50 youths stormed the AL North District office in the building and began vandalising it. They also vandalised a mural of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

NCP Metropolitan Committee's Joint Coordinator Arif Moinuddin told The Daily Star, "Yes, we went there. Our sources informed us that fugitive AL leaders and activists had been using this office for subversive activities. The caretaker of the office helped them."

"On August 5 last year, we came here and vandalised the photo of Sheikh Hasina. Afterwards, the office remained closed for a few days. Today, we went to the office based on this information and broke the padlock, where we found all kinds of meeting arrangements inside the office," he said.

"Circumstantial evidence suggests that AL men used the office regularly. If needed, we will rent the office from the concerned party after verifying identity," he added.

"Currently, our men are staying at the place to thwart AL's subversive plans," he added.

Kotwali Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdul Karim said they have heard about the vandalism, but no one has lodged any complaint in this regard. If anyone complains, action will be taken after investigation.