Threat calls preceded Nusrat’s home fire
NCP MP Nusrat Tabassum has raised serious concerns over her personal and family security after a fire damaged her ancestral home in Kushtia, saying she had received repeated threat calls in the days leading up to the incident and demanding accountability from the government over the deteriorating law and order situation.
The reserved-seat MP believes the fire was caused by a petrol-bomb attack and suspects the banned Awami League was behind it.
However, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told Parliament on Thursday that preliminary findings suggested an electrical short circuit, although a joint investigation was under way to establish the actual cause.
Speaking at a press conference at around 11:30am on Thursday, Nusrat said she had received a threat call from a spam number on the night of 28 October, followed by several more calls.
She filed a general diary (GD) at Kalabagan Police Station in Dhaka on Tuesday after describing the threats, but calls continued even afterwards.
She also claimed that a threatening post had appeared on the Facebook account of the fugitive president of Kushtia district Chhatra League about three hours before the attack.
“We have never paid heed to such threats. If we had, we would not be where we are today,” she said.
Referring to CCTV footage, Nusrat said four consecutive explosions were recorded at her house at around 12:15am on Wednesday.
Their nature suggested the use of petrol bombs, although she said the final conclusion should be left to investigators.
“I was on the streets before over our demands, and I will be again. We cannot be silenced by attacks like this,” she said.
She said the house was her ancestral home, built by her grandfather, where she and her younger brother had grown up.
A livestock farm, relatives and a family who had looked after the property for five or six years were also there.
One child from that family was injured, while several livestock died and household belongings were destroyed.
Questioning the government’s responsibility for ensuring security, Nusrat urged Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed to explain what protection the state could provide.
If the authorities could not fulfil their responsibilities, those responsible should step down, she said, adding that dismissing concerns would not conceal the deterioration in law and order.
Meanwhile, the Home Minister told Parliament that an electrical short circuit was the most likely cause of the fire, based on preliminary findings.
He said the BGB had found no evidence of a petrol-bomb explosion on the walls, while no eyewitness had reported such an attack.
The house was an old semi-concrete structure with a tin roof and eight rooms, with weak electrical wiring, he said. Two goats died and household goods were damaged.
A joint investigation involving the BGB, Fire Service and Civil Defence, police and local administration has been ordered.
Photographs, audio and video recordings collected from the scene are being examined. A GD was also filed at Daulatpur Police Station under No. 703 on Thursday.
Responding to Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam, who questioned the police’s early dismissal of the petrol-bomb allegation and warned of worsening security for lawmakers, Salahuddin said strict legal action would be taken if the investigation established sabotage or anyone’s involvement.
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram also urged the government to take the allegation seriously and ensure appropriate action.
Meanwhile, the NCP announced a torch procession in protest against the incident, to be joined by leaders and activists of its Dhaka metropolitan unit and affiliated organisations.