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Several polling centres torched across Bangladesh ahead of polls

Several polling centres torched across Bangladesh

  • No casualties reported 
  • Five arrested in Mymensingh

 

Update : 07 Jan 2024, 02:44 AM

At least 14 polling centres and two schools in 10 districts were set on fire between Friday evening and early Saturday.

However, no casualties were reported from the latest arson attacks.

In Lalmonirhat, miscreants set fire to a polling centre in Hatibandha upazila.

The centre, Sheikh Sundar Masterpara Primary School, was set on fire around 10pm on Saturday.

Five people were arrested after a centre was torched in Mymensingh on Saturday. 

Previously, at least five schools, being used as polling centres on Sunday, were set afire in Feni and Rajshahi in separate incidents from Thursday night to Friday morning.

In Moulvibazar, Sabia Government Primary School of Chandighat union in Sadar upazila was set on fire by arsonists at around 8pm on Friday. The school was a polling centre for the Moulvibazar-3 constituency.

The school managing committee's president, Abdur Goffer Bablu, said the doors of three rooms were gutted in the fire set by four arsonists. 

In Habiganj, miscreants set fire to the Dhalaipar Government Primary School centre in Chunarughat Upazila at around 12:15am Saturday, damaging several sets of furniture. 

Chunarughat Upazila Nirbahi Officer Neelima Raihana said that no electoral material or equipment was damaged as the fire could not reach it after it originated.  

In Gazipur, two polling centres were set on fire by unidentified arsonists in different parts of the district early Saturday.

Kaliakair Upazila Nirbahi Officer and assistant returning officer Hossain Mohammad Hye said miscreants set fire to the office room of Bashtoli Government Primary School in Kaliakair upazila early in the morning.

Meanwhile, a group of miscreants set fire to East Chandana Government Primary School in the Bason area of Gazipur city at around 1:30 am.

Miscreants also set fire to TNT Ideal High School at Telipara in the city early Saturday. But it was not a polling centre, said Abdullah Al Arefin, deputy assistant director of Gazipur Fire Service and Civil Defence.

In Chittagong, miscreants set fire to three polling stations in Khulshi and Bandar areas early Saturday.

The centres which were set ablaze are Nishchinta Para Government Primary School, Mohius Sunnah Madrasa in Bandar area and UCEP School (Dabba School) in Khulshi.

Md Shamim, senior station officer of Bandar Fire Service Station, said two firefighting units were engaged in dousing the flames at the spots after being informed about the incidents at around 5 am.

In the Nishchinta centre under Chittagong-11 constituency, the fire originated from the headmaster’s room of the school and valuables, including books, were burnt.

The extent of the damage caused by the fire in the Khulshi school could not be ascertained immediately.

In Mymensingh, miscreants set fire to two polling stations in Nandail and Gafargaon upazilas of the district early Saturday.

Deputy Commissioner of Mymensingh district and returning officer Dider-e-Alam Mohammad Maksud Chowdhury said unidentified miscreants set fire to Haripur Government Primary School in Nandail and Parshipara Government Primary School in Gafargaon upazila.

Masum Ahmed Bhuiya, superintendent of Mymensingh Police, said five people were arrested in this connection.

In Patuakhali, several benches were gutted as the Sher-e-Bangla Girls’s School centre in the municipal area was set afire at around 9am on Saturday.

Miscreants set fire to a polling centre in Shariatpur's Naria upazila early Saturday.

Several benches were burnt in the fire that took place at Charmohan Sureshwar Primary School polling centre under Gharishar union in the upazila.

Moreover, miscreants tried to set another centre on fire. 

In Sherpur, a fire broke out at the store room of the Mirzapur Government Primary School centre at Bajitkhila in Sadar upazila early Saturday.

Some benches were gutted in the fire, the fire service said.

Whether it is an act of sabotage or not will be investigated, said the police.

Meanwhile, arsonists torched a centre in Khulna’s Rupsha Upazila around 9pm on Friday.

In the district’s Dumuria upazila, a school was torched by miscreants who mistook that for a polling centre, said Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sharif Asif Rahman. 

Miscreants set Garakata Government Primary School, a designated polling centre, on fire in Madhyanagar of Sunamganj early Saturday. 

Locals and police quickly brought the fire under control, but the wooden doors and windows were damaged somewhat.

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