RAJSHAHI, Aug 06 (V7N) — The abandoned residence of former Rajshahi City Corporation mayor A.H.M. Khairuzzaman Liton has fallen into severe disrepair and is now being used by drug users and passers-by, according to local residents.

The three-storey house, located in Rajshahi's Upashahar area, was once regarded as a political hub where party leaders, supporters, contractors and government officials frequently gathered during Liton's tenure in public office. Today, the property stands vandalised, with damaged walls, burned rooms and piles of debris scattered throughout the compound.

Residents said the house has remained vacant since the political transition in Bangladesh in August 2024. Liton, a Presidium Member of the Awami League, which is currently under a government ban on political activities, reportedly left the city after the change in government and has not returned.

According to neighbours, members of Liton's family also left the residence on the day of the political transition. Shortly afterward, the property was attacked by a crowd, resulting in extensive looting, vandalism and arson. Doors, windows, iron grills and electrical wiring were later removed, leaving the building abandoned.

A recent visit to the property found most rooms heavily damaged and littered with rubbish. Local residents alleged that drug users now regularly gather inside the building and that the premises are also being used as an open public toilet by some passers-by and homeless people.

Kashmi Khan, a supervisor with the Rajshahi City Corporation's sanitation department, said the building has become a gathering place for drug users and people with no permanent shelter.

"The condition of the house reflects public anger from that period. It has now turned into a place frequently used by drug users and vagrants," he said.

Another local resident, Anwar Hossain Sheikh, said the house was once one of the city's most influential political addresses.

"Many people once considered it a privilege even to enter this residence. Today, it has become a symbol of how dramatically political fortunes can change," he said.

The property is located in an upscale neighbourhood, approximately 20 metres from the Upashahar Police Outpost. Despite its proximity to law enforcement, residents claim illegal drug use continues inside the abandoned building, particularly after dark.

Responding to those concerns, Sub-Inspector Md Shah Alam, officer-in-charge of the Upashahar Police Outpost, acknowledged that police are aware of reports of drug users entering the property.

"We conduct regular patrols in the area. However, those involved usually stay only briefly, making it difficult to detain anyone," he said.

There has been no public response from Liton or his family regarding the current condition of the property.

END/MRA/SMA/