DHAKA: Unidentified arsonists set fire to at least five primary schools, including four polling booths, in Gazipur, Bangladesh, on the eve of a general election that the main opposition party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is boycotting.
The incidents, suspected to be aimed at disrupting the election, occurred in the middle of the night, leading to heightened security measures.
Gazipur police chief Kazi Shafiqul Alam stated that investigations are underway, and authorities are on high alert to prevent any untoward incidents. The BNP, boycotting the election for the second time in three cycles, accuses Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League of attempting to legitimize a sham vote to secure a fourth consecutive term.
Prime Minister Hasina, rejecting BNP demands for her resignation and the establishment of a neutral authority to oversee the election, accuses the opposition party of fueling anti-government protests in Dhaka since late October. These protests have resulted in at least 10 deaths in the South Asian country.
As part of its protest, the BNP has called for citizens to boycott the poll and declared a two-day strike starting Saturday. The situation has led to increased security measures in Dhaka, with roads largely deserted and security forces patrolling the city in armored vehicles.
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Arson attacks targeting polling booths have been reported in northeastern districts like Moulavibazar and Habiganj, along with similar incidents across the country over the past two days. In the coastal district of Khulna, police arrested two individuals attempting to set fire to a school. Locals also averted another arson attempt on a primary school building in the same area.
Approximately 800,000 police, paramilitary forces, and police auxiliaries have been deployed to guard polling booths on election day. The army, navy, and air force officials have also been stationed across the country to maintain peace and security during the election process.
In a separate incident on the same night, a passenger train, the Dhaka-bound Benapole Express, experienced a suspected arson attack, resulting in at least four deaths, including a child, and eight injuries. The fire was brought under control by firefighting units after about an hour.
The BNP officials labeled the train incident as an act of sabotage and cruelty against humanity, blaming the ruling party. The Awami League, in turn, accused the BNP of attempting to disrupt the election by creating a “reign of terror on innocent people.” The incidents raise concerns about the potential for further unrest and violence surrounding the election.
