The homes of former army chief Moeen U Ahmed and former Noakhali MPs, Mohammad Ali and Ayesha Ferdous, were attacked, vandalised and set on fire in Begumganj and Hatiya last night and earlier today.

The incidents occurred between 8:00pm and 2:30am. Upon receiving reports, separate teams from the army and police visited the sites.

Quoting locals, Begumganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Liton Dewan told The Daily Peoples time that a group of over a hundred masked and helmeted attackers, armed with sticks, stormed the house of former army chief Moeen U Ahmed in Alipur village of Chaumuhani municipality, at around 8:00pm.

The two-storey house, owned by Minhaj Ahmed Jabed, younger brother of the former army chief and former vice president of the district Awami League, was extensively looted and vandalised. Attackers set fire to a sofa in the drawing room before leaving, he said.

Shortly afterwards, they attempted to storm Akhter Hossain Faisal's residence but failed to gain entry, said OC Liton.

Major Tanvir of the army's Noakhali camp said a team was deployed immediately after receiving information about the attack on the former army chief's house. He added that he discussed the incident with BNP Vice Chairman Barkat Ullah Bulu and other political leaders.

Md Ariful Islam, convener of the Noakhali district branch of anti-discrimination students movement, denied any involvement in the attacks, saying that their organisation was not responsible and that their political activities had taken place earlier in the day.

In another incident in Hatiya, miscreants attacked the Char Koilash residence of former MPs Mohammad Ali and Ayesha Ferdous late at night.

The assailants removed engines from six speedboats and four engine-driven trawlers owned by Mohammad Ali before setting them on fire near the river bank, said Hatiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) AKM Ajmal Huda.

He said that according to the guards, around 100-150 people carried out the attack under the cover of darkness, vandalising and looting before setting the ground floor ablaze.

A Hatiya municipality resident, requesting anonymity, told The Daily peoples time that one group initially attempted to attack Mohammad Ali's house at around 1:00am, but his supporters repelled them.

However, at around 2:30am, a larger group of several hundred stormed the residence, ransacked it, and set fire to the furniture.

The identity of the attackers could not be confirmed but investigation was under way, said OC Ajmal Huda.

Noakhali Deputy Commissioner Khandaker Istiyaq Ahmed condemned the attacks and arson, stating that the government does not support such acts of retaliation and that those responsible will face strict legal action.