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Looting continued for days, and furniture and metal fixtures were taken away.

Afterwards, the building turned into a public toilet, used by homeless people, rickshaw pullers, and labourers. It also became a gathering place for drug users and vagrants, locals alleged.

Amir Hossain, an employee at a shop in Ramna Bhaban opposite the AL office, said the new banner was put up on Wednesday. “Since then, many journalists and curious people have come to see what’s happening,” he said.

He said water had accumulated on the ground floor, which was being cleared by Wasa. “After August 5, the building was used as a public toilet, and drug addicts stayed there at night,” he said.

Dulal Patowari, a security guard at Ramna Bhaban, recalled, “When I started this job 16 years ago, the building was full of activity. It was a powerhouse. But after August 5, it became the opposite.”

Contacted, Shahriar Ali, deputy commissioner of the Motijheel Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said a police team has been stationed at the site since November last year.

He confirmed that work on the site is ongoing with support from Wasa and the city corporation.

“We do not know exactly who they [the youth overseeing the work] are, but they introduced themselves as ‘July Fighters’,” he said.

The previous party office in Gulistan was demolished to make way for this 10-storey building. It was officially inaugurated on June 23, 2018, by AL president and then prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The new building cost around Tk 15 crore.