Former minister Bir Bahadur's house set on fire in Bandarban

The residence of former Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Bir Bahadur Ushaising has been set on fire in Bandarban.

The incident took place in the Rajarmath area around 1:15 am on Friday (December 19).

Locals said that after Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi died while undergoing treatment at the General Hospital in Singapore, angry students and the public started a protest procession in Bandarban town. When the procession reached Rajarmath, passing through the market area and passing through Madhyampara, the agitators set fire to the former minister's residence.

The students and the public blamed Bir Bahadur Ushaising for Hadi's death and demanded his arrest. Later, they also held a brief rally at the traffic intersection of Bandarban Bazar.

After receiving information about the fire, the army, police and fire service reached the spot and brought the fire under control. Fire Service Senior Station Officer Iftekhar Uddin said the unit managed to bring the fire under control after a long effort. The extent of the damage is yet to be determined.

District Police Superintendent Md. Abdur Rahman said an investigation into the late-night incident is underway and security arrangements have been tightened across the district.