Ex-SAD leader Mahdi alleges petrol bomb attack on home in Facebook Live; police call claim ‘drama’

Mahdi Hasan, a former leader of the Habiganj unit of Students Against Discrimination (SAD), alleged today (14 November) that a petrol bomb attack has been carried out at his home. 

However, police dismissed the claim, saying they found no evidence of such an attack and describing the incident as “drama”.

Mahdi made the allegation during a Facebook Live session from his account at around 12:30am.

Mahdi claimed that he was sleeping with his family when two objects, resembling stones, suddenly landed on the tin roof of their house at around 12:30am.

A fire broke out shortly afterwards, leading him to suspect that something resembling a petrol bomb had been thrown at the house. He went live on Facebook shortly after to report the incident.

During the live session, Mahdi showed what he claimed was damage to the electricity meter at his uncle’s house caused by a petrol bomb. He also claimed that fragments of the alleged petrol bomb were scattered on the ground.

“We were sleeping. At around 12:30am, two objects resembling stones suddenly hit the tin roof of our house, and a fire broke out. We suspect that something like a petrol bomb was thrown onto our roof,” Mahdi said.

Habiganj Sadar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Zahidul Haque outright rejected Mahdi’s allegation, saying police found no evidence of a petrol bomb attack after visiting the scene in response to the Facebook Live.

“This is a drama by Mahdi Hasan. After watching his Facebook Live, I went to the scene but found no evidence of a petrol bomb attack,” he said.

The OC further said an autorickshaw battery was being charged at the house of Mahdi’s uncle, Anwar, located around 20 to 30 yards from Mahdi’s home.

According to the OC, the fire originated from an electrical short circuit at the uncle’s house, burning its electricity meter.