No specific evidence of petrol bombs or sabotage was found in the fire incident at the Kushtia village home of Nusrat Tabassum, reserved female seat lawmaker of National Citizen Party (NCP), Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad told Parliament on Thursday.
He said it is initially suspected that the fire might have originated from a short circuit due to a fault in the electrical connection, although the actual cause will be confirmed after a full investigation.
Salahuddin gave these details during the fourth day of the fourth session of the Jatiya Sangshad on Thursday while responding to a question raised under a point of order by Nahid Islam, opposition chief whip and convener of NCP. Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, speaker of parliament, presided over the sitting.
Allegations of nationwide sabotage
Earlier, raising the issue in parliament, Nahid Islam questioned whether it could be said that the law and order situation in the country has not deteriorated even after setting fire to the house of a member of parliament.
He alleged that the security of leaders and activists who led the July Mass Uprising and the anti-fascist movement across the country has come under threat due to nationwide attacks and sabotage.
Salahuddin said that at around 12am on Wednesday night, an arson attack was carried out at the house of Nusrat Tabassum in Daulatpur, Kushtia. He claimed that four petrol bombs were thrown to set the fire and that livestock kept in the house died in the blaze.
Criticising the police response regarding the investigation, Nahid Islam said Salahuddin personally spoke to the superintendent of police, yet no forensic team visited the scene.
He questioned how the officer-in-charge of the police station commented that no evidence of petrol bombs was found without conducting any forensic investigation.
Salahuddin added that anarchy and sabotage have begun across the country, noting that 48 hours have passed since the attack on Hasib Al Islam, coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Moulvibazar, but no suspect has been arrested. He also highlighted that incidents of petrol bomb and cocktail explosions are taking place nationwide, including in the Dhaka University area.
Speaker asks home minister to act
In response to Nahid Islam’s speech, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, speaker of parliament, said an attack on the house of a member of parliament is an extremely serious incident.
The speaker requested the treasury bench and the home minister to take necessary measures regarding the matter and expressed hope that Salahuddin would remedy the situation.
Providing details of the incident to parliament, Salahuddin Ahmad said the fire broke out at around 12:20am on 12 November at the village home of Nusrat Tabassum in Baguan village under Mathurapur union of Daulatpur upazila, located 7.4 kilometres from the border.
Salahuddin said her parents reside in a three-storey house located 20 metres away from the tin-shed semi-pucca structure that caught fire. Salahuddin added that nobody lived in the tin-shed house, which was used only to keep two goats and some furniture.
Salahuddin said that immediately after receiving information about the incident, fire service vehicles from a neighbouring police station were brought to control the blaze.
He informed the house that an additional superintendent of police, the officer-in-charge, the superintendent of police, and a team from Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) inspected the site.
Salahuddin added that a joint investigation committee comprising BGB, the Fire Service, police, and civil administration has been ordered to ascertain the actual cause of the fire.
Electrical short circuit suspected
Regarding the preliminary findings, Salahuddin Ahmad said that after discussions with local residents and law enforcement agencies, and evaluating physical evidence, no sound of a petrol bomb explosion or any mark of petrol bombs was found on the walls.
Salahuddin noted that no witness provided any information regarding the use of petrol bombs.
He said an examination of scene photographs, walls, and other evidence suggests that because the house was old and had weak electrical wiring, the fire might have started from an electrical short circuit, though this remains subject to confirmation through a complete investigation.
The home minister further informed parliament that some shoe-making equipment and clothes belonging to a caretaker were damaged in the fire, and two goats died. He said a general diary has already been filed at the police station, and police are investigating the matter accordingly.
He assured parliament that if further investigation proves that anyone carried out acts of sabotage behind the incident, strict legal action will be taken.
