Human chain condemns vandalism in Faridpur govt offices 

Awami League leaders and activists formed a human chain in Saltha upazila of Faridpur on Tuesday, condemning the attack carried out on government establishments there the previous night. 

They gathered in front of the Muktijoddha Complex of the upazila town in the afternoon and demonstrated against the vandalism. 

The speakers declared that none of the perpetrators of Monday's violence would be spared. They also vowed to foil any fresh attempt at violence in the upazila, with the support of the people.

On Monday night, angry locals vandalised and set fire to the Saltha UNO residence, police station, and Upazila Parishad, protesting "an assault" by the administration on a man for violating lockdown rules.

When law enforcement opened fire to bring the situation under control, Jubayer Hossain, 18, of Ramkantpur Union, sustained bullet injuries and died later. Four to five other people were also injured in the shooting. 

The incident erupted after a local man named Zakir Hossain was allegedly beaten up by an assistant of Upazilla Assistant Commissioner (land) Marufa Sultana Khan Hiramoni, at Fukra Bazar in Sonapur union. 

Zakir claimed that while Marufa Sultana was inspecting enforcement of the lockdown, a man got down from her car and started to beat him with a stick without any warning. Zakir was taken to the upazila hospital with severe injury to his waist. 

Agitated locals later clashed with a police team led by SI Mizanur Rahman of Saltha police station, which drove them away from the Fukra Bazar area.

Following the clash, local residents and Fukra Bazar shopkeepers first besieged Saltha Police Station and the Upazila Parishad office seeking justice for Zakir.