KHULNA — A fire damaged the home of a Jamaat-e-Islami supporter in Fultala upazila of the Khulna-5 constituency, with the party alleging political opponents set the blaze in retaliation for his vote.
Jamaat-e-Islami announced a protest rally and march for Sunday afternoon in response. The party said voters were targeted for backing its scales symbol on the ballot.
The fire broke out at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday at the home of Shokor Akunji, a resident of Akunjipara in Mashiali village of ward No. 1 of Atra-Gilatala union, the party said.
Local residents said they rushed to the scene after spotting the fire and brought it under control by dousing it with water. A wooden firewood shed at Akunji’s home was destroyed in the blaze, residents said.
Syed Hasan Mahamud Tito, the Khan Jahan Ali thana Jamaat-e-Islami chief, accused supporters of the BNP and the Awami League of setting the fire. “Terrorists from the BNP and Awami League in the Khulna-5 constituency have been threatening supporters of the scales symbol in the area,” he said. “They are the ones who set this fire.”
Mia Golam Parwar, Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general and the scales-symbol candidate backed by an 11-party electoral alliance in Khulna-5, visited the site after being notified. He called on authorities to investigate the incident thoroughly and bring those responsible to justice promptly.
Sub-Inspector Rubel of Khan Jahan Ali police station, who inspected the scene, said action will be taken after investigation if the victims file a complaint.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report