Polling Centre Among Two Schools Set on Fire in Gazipur

Unidentified Miscreants set fire to two educational institutions in Telipara and Chandana areas of Gazipur and one in Kaliakore early Saturday. Gazipur city Police and locals said that one of the schools was set to be used as a polling centre in Bangladesh’s next national election slated for Sunday. Two out of three educational institutions were earmarked for use as polling stations in the National Assembly elections. It is reported that computers, books, furniture were burnt in the fire. After the incident police, fire service officials and administration personnel visited the spot.

Abdullah Al Arefin, Deputy Assistant Director of Gazipur Fire Service and Civil Defence, said that miscreants set fire to TNT Ideal High School situated at Telipara at about 2:45am. 

On information, two firefighting units rushed to the spot and doused the blaze at 2:45 am.  Meanwhile seven classrooms, an office and educational materials were burnt in the fire. The school is not a polling centre.

A fire service official said miscreants set fire to TNT Adarsh High School adjacent to Bangabandhu Satellite in Telipara area at night. Meanwhile, Meanwhile miscreants set fire to Purba Chandana Government Primary School on the same night also. The school was supposed to be used as a polling station for polling in the National Assembly elections. A school cupboard and books were burnt in the fire. Also miscreants broke the lock of the office room of Bashtali Government Primary School in Kaliakir and set it on fire. The school's furniture was destroyed in this time. However, there was no casualty in the fire.

On information, a firefighting unit rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze.

Earlier on Friday and Thursday night at least five polling centres were set on fire in Rajshahi and Feni districts.