Awami League leaders of Gaibandha which is considered as the stronhold of Jamaat-Shibir, are passing days in panic as arson attacks targetting their houses have increased alarmingly.
Arson attacks and bomb explosion incidents have been going unabadatedly since the BNP-led 20-party alliance went on blockade for indefinite period on January 6.
Fearing arson attacks, many leaders of the rulling party particularly residents of Polashbari, are staying out of home as well as their relatives’ houses.
Some unidentified miscrents set the house of Abdus Samad Akand, president of Awami League Kalamjhar unit, to fire on Tuesday.
As family members raised voice for help, neighbouring people rushed there and extenguished the fire. Abdus Samad Akand and his son, however, were not present at the time.
Belal Yousuf Rasel, son of Abdus Samad, told the Dhaka Tribune that Jamaat-Shibir were involved in the attack.
People of the country for the first time came to know about the stronghold of Jamaat-Shibir after four policemen were lynched to death when Jamaat activists attacked a police out post at Sundarganj upazila’s Bamandanga on February 28, 2013.
The Jamaat men attacked the police out post following a verdict which gave Delwar Hossain Sayedde life-term imprisonment for crimes against huminity during the Liberation War in 1971.
Later, at least five people, including two children and a woman, were killed in a deadly firebomb attack on a bus in Tulsighat area on Gaibandha-Dhaka highway on February 7.
Later, two victims of the fire died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Besides, the house of Ruhul Amin Sarkar Jewel, general secretary of Sramik League Sadullahpur unit was also set on fire in the early hours of Sunday.
Ruhul Amin Sarkar said : “I am sure that Jamaat-Shibir men carried out the attack.”
Valuables, including TV, refrigerator and furniture were burnt to ashes in the fire. He demanded his security.
Hafizur Rahman Badol, general secretary of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal Sadullahpur upazila unit, told the Dhaka Tribune that the fire originated from outside that’s mean miscreants tried to burn down the house.
A fire broke out at the residence of Shahinur Islam, a college teacher, on Monday.
Jakaria Khandokar and Shahria Khan Biplo, vice-president and general secretary respectively of Sadullahpur Awami League unit, told the Dhaka Tribune that Jamaat-Shibir in a planned way were carrying out the attacks. They demanded arrest of all Jamaat-Shibir leaders and activists as soon as possible.
Zia Latiful Islam, officer-in-charge of Sadullahpur police station, said police had visited the residences of Awami League leaders where fire broke out in recent times. He said : We are looking into the matter.