Mob creates chaos, attacks, vandalizes and loots Abhoyaranny Pathagar in Tangail

On Thursday, April 24, around 8:00 PM, a group of youths deliberately created a mob and carried out an attack, vandalism, and looting at the non-political and non-profit organization 'Abhoyaranny Pathagar' in Dhanbari upazila of Tangail district. When they tried to stop it, threats of murder and injury were also given. The library authorities said that the attackers raised allegations saying—"People read atheist books from here... There is an order from above to break and burn this library."

They stuffed valuable books of the library into bags and labeled the place as a "center of atheism". At one point, Dhanbari police station DSB official Adnan appeared at the library in disguise and asked the attackers which books were the "source of atheism"—they could not point to any specific book. When the police officer's identity was revealed, they quickly changed their stance and left the place under the pretext of submitting the books to the UNO office.

The library authorities claim that books and documents worth approximately Tk 2 lakh were looted and furniture worth Tk 50,000 was vandalized in this attack. Earlier, on March 31, 2022, an attack was carried out on the same library and the "Wall of Humanity" was set on fire, regarding which a general diary (GD No-1230) was filed at the police station. The day after the incident, in a complaint filed at Dhanbari police station on April 25, charges were brought against Golam Rabbani (Rishad), Sohel, Shafi, Shahidul Islam Alamin, and 15-20 unnamed persons.

Various evidences including Facebook live have been presented in the complaint sheet. According to the complaint, at the instigation of accused number 4 and under the leadership of accused number 1, all the accused jointly forced their way into the library at night and looted and vandalized books. When the general secretary of the library tried to stop them, accused numbers 2 and 3 threatened him with murder and injury. Established in 2015, 'Abhoyaranny Pathagar' has been working as a neutral platform for free thinking, reading practice, and creating social awareness in the Dhanbari region.

Their activities include observing national days, reading circles, quiz competitions, blood donation programs, prevention of child marriage, and anti-drug awareness. The library authorities said in a statement, "This attack is not just on books—it is an attempt to destroy a safe space for free thinking and rational knowledge practice. It is an organized and pre-planned attack." They have demanded the administration take swift action against the culprits and ensure the security of the library and readers in the future.