Pabna,May 17 (V7N) - Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists blocked the Pabna-Atgharia road and staged a protest rally in Debottar Bazar, Atgharia Upazila of Pabna on Friday, protesting the alleged burning of their party office and the Holy Quran. They are demanding the immediate arrest of BNP leaders and activists whom they accuse of the crime, as well as the removal of the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Atgharia Police Station.

The protest began around 10 am in front of the Upazila Jamaat office in Debottar Bazar. District Jamaat Ameer Professor Abu Taleb Mandal showed journalists what he claimed were pictures of the burnt Jamaat office. Subsequently, the protesters blocked the Pabna-Atgharia road and held a rally, displaying burnt copies of the Quran Sharif.

The protest rally was addressed by District Jamaat Ameer Professor Abu Taleb Mondal, Assistant Secretary SM Sohel, and Upazila Jamaat Ameer Maulana Naqibullah, along with other district and upazila Jamaat leaders.

Professor Abu Taleb Mondal alleged that "extortionist and occupying terrorists" from the Upazila BNP not only burned the Jamaat office but also carried out "barbaric attacks in the style of Israel," burning various Islamic books, including the Holy Quran and Hadith. He demanded the immediate arrest of these individuals and also called for the immediate withdrawal of the OC of Atgharia Police Station, accusing him of siding with the "terrorists" and losing impartiality.

The incident follows a previous clash where BNP leaders allegedly prevented Jamaat leaders from collecting election forms for Debottar Degree College, beating them and forcing them to leave. Following this BNP-Jamaat clash, Jamaat leaders and activists reportedly vandalized the office and motorcycle of a local BNP leader, Alam. In retaliation, BNP leaders and activists allegedly vandalized and set fire to the Upazila Jamaat office. Leaders from both BNP and Jamaat have accused each other of initiating these incidents.

Atgharia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Shafiquzzaman stated that both sides vandalized each other's offices and that a clash occurred, resulting in some injuries. He assured that the situation is currently normal, with additional police deployed. He also mentioned that legal action would be taken after an investigation if a formal complaint is filed.

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