Attack on Jibon Mahal Park in Dinajpur: Silence Prevails, Fear Grips Staff

Dinajpur, August 29, 2025: On Friday afternoon, the main gate of Jibon Mahal Family Park and Community Center in Biral Upazila, Dinajpur, remained locked, with no security guards in sight. Scattered items near the gate hinted at the violent attack that took place on Thursday afternoon. After about ten minutes of calling out, a middle-aged employee, visibly shaken, allowed entry and showed the damage caused by the assault.

Located at Kanchan Mor in Biral Upazila, Jibon Mahal Family Park and Community Center was attacked, looted, and set on fire on Thursday afternoon over allegations of “anti-social and anti-Islamic activities.” No legal case had been filed by Friday afternoon. The park’s owner, Anwar Hossain, alias Jibon Chowdhury, a resident of Damail in Biral Upazila, contested as an independent candidate in the 12th National Parliamentary Election for the Dinajpur-2 (Biral-Bochaganj) constituency. Since 2004, he has developed the park on his ancestral land, starting with a roundhouse and meditation center, later adding a picnic spot, community center, fish farm, swimming pool, mosque, restaurant, and resort. The facility employs over 150 staff members.

The attack damaged 11 rooms in the resort, with doors, windows, furniture, and air conditioners vandalized, and items like televisions looted. The meditation center was set ablaze, leaving burnt furniture and medical supplies. The community center’s chairs and tables were smashed, and the picnic spot was also vandalized. The office of Jibon Unnayan Sangstha, which manages microcredit programs, was ransacked, with documents destroyed and money reportedly looted. Park manager Robiul Islam said, “Every Thursday, we held meditation sessions for paralyzed patients, providing free medicine. We didn’t anticipate such an attack. We thought they would hold a rally and leave, but they destroyed everything. Some attackers even wore helmets.” Anwar Hossain told Prothom Alo over the phone that the attack stemmed from misinformation spread by a group to prevent him from contesting future elections. He clarified that Jibon Mahal is not a religious site but operates a “Life Shining Method” similar to the Quantum Method. He claimed to run the facility legally and criticized the administration for failing to intervene in time. He plans to assess the damage before taking legal action.

Once bustling with visitors, the park was eerily silent on Friday, with employees and staff living in fear following the attack.