Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud today said that the recent attacks on the Ahmadiyya community in Panchagarh were similar to 2013, 2014 and 2015 anarchies carried out by BNP-Jamaat, and that the recent attacks were “monitored from Dhaka and London.”

“They had planned to create a mess in the whole country by spreading rumours and carrying out violence in Panchagarh,” the minister said while visiting the areas where the attacks took place in Ahmednagar under Boda upazila of Panchagarh district.

"We have come here on behalf of Awami League to see the mindless violence that was carried out on the Ahmadiyya community on March 2, 3 and 4. There were provocations before the heinous attacks similar to those of 2013, 2014 and 2015,” added the minister.

He said the attacks were carried out after organised incitements. “The attacks were carried out as part of a grand plan of those who want to fish in muddy waters and want to create instability in Bangladesh.”

He said everyone knows who operates ‘Basher Kella’ on social media platforms. Provocations were spread from the page, and from the pages of BNP leaders Rumin Farhana and former lawmaker Harun-or-Rashid, he claimed.

Most attackers were BNP-Jamaat supporters though they used another banner, said Hasan.

He said the attackers set fire to Morshed Mia's home, the general secretary of AL Ward-9 unit under Dhakkamar union. He added that attacks were carried out on police boxes and the home of Jubo League municipality unit vice president Shahin Alam.

The minister said the terrorists had tried to launch attacks on DC and SP offices while they torched the vehicle of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

He said that Islam never allows attacks on anyone in the name of religion and the Prophet (PBUH) never endorsed burning people’s houses like this. "Those who carry out acts of violence against others in the name of Islam are enemies of Islam," said Hasan.

Hasan Mahmud urged all to resist the enemies, saying the government is determined to ensure exemplary punishment for the attackers.

Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan, AL Organising Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, AL Panchagarh district unit general secretary Anowar Sadat, deputy commissioner (DC) Md Jahurul Islam and police superintendent SM Sirajul Huda, among others, were present.

Later, the minister joined a peace rally in front of AL Panchagarh district unit office.