Four polling centres torched in Rajshahi, Feni

Miscreants have set fire to three polling centres in Rajshahi and one in Feni on Friday, two days before the the 12th parliamentary election. The incidents took place in between Thursday night and Friday morning.

No casualties were reported in the incidents. However, some furniture items were damaged in the incidents, according to local news portals.

Pakuria Jotnashi Primary School of Bagha Upazila, Jinnah Government Primary School of Arani Union, and Ganipur Akkelpur High School of Bagmara Upazila’s Ganipur Union were torched in Rajshahi.

Meanwhile, Charshaha Bhikari High School polling centre in Char Darbesh union of Feni’s Sonagazi upazila was set on fire on Friday morning.

On information, a unit of Sonagazi fire station arrived at the scene and managed to bring the fire under control after an hour of effort.

Some furniture items were damaged in the fire which gutted the school’s teachers’ auditorium.

Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (Sonagazi-Daganbhuiyan Circle) Tasnim Hossain said police were investigating the incident to determine whether it was aimed at disrupting the polling activities.

Sonagazi Upazila Assistant Returning Officer Kamrul Hasan mentioned that investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.

Additionally, security measures will be heightened during the upcoming election, said the election official.

Khair Ullah, the acting headmaster of the school, mentioned that during the school's audit, President Dr. Abdul Haque relieved Headmaster Joynal Abedin from his position.

There's a possibility that the fire incident might be connected to this ongoing dispute, he said.

A total of 4,354 men and women are set to exercise their franchise at Charsaha Bhikari High School centre in Sunday's parliamentary election.