13 polling centres torched in 9 dists

Staff Reporter :
At least 13 polling stations were set on fire by unidentified arsonists in Chattogram, Gazipur, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Tangail, Shariatpur, Khulna, Barguna and Habiganj districts ahead of today’s national election.

Of the total, three polling stations were set on fire in Chattogram, two each in Mymensingh and Gazipur districts, one each in Sherpur, Tangail, Barguna, Khulna and Habiganj districts.

In Chattogram, miscreants set fire to three polling stations in Khulshi and Bandar areas of the port city of Chattogram early Saturday.

The centers 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 flame at the spots after being informed about the incidents around 5 am.

In Nishchinta para Government Primary School centre under Chattogram-11 constituency, 3, 292 voters were supposed to cast votes in Sunday’s national election.

The fire originated from the headmaster’s room of the school and valuables including books were burnt in the fire.

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

Mohammad Ali Hossain, Deputy Commissioner (Port-West) of Chattogram Detective Police, said they went to the centres after receiving the news.

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