A mysterious fire broke out on Sunday afternoon at the Beejbag DT Government Primary School in Senbag Upazila, Noakhali, reducing a classroom to ashes and sparking local concerns. The incident occurred at approximately 5:00 PM in the Bakshirhat area. While firefighters and locals managed to extinguish the flames, the exact cause of the ignition remains a subject of official investigation.
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Emergency Response and Containment
According to Md. Nurul Kawsar, an assistant teacher at the school, the alarm was raised as smoke began billowing from the ground floor of the school’s two-storey building. Local residents from the nearby Bakshirhat market were the first to respond, demonstrating remarkable communal spirit by using sand and water from the school grounds to suppress the inferno.
The Senbag Fire Service was alerted via the national emergency hotline (999) at 5:25 PM. Although the blaze was largely contained by the time they arrived, fire crews conducted a “dampening down” operation to ensure no hot spots remained.
Damage Assessment and Technical Oversight
The damage within the affected classroom is extensive. Initial reports suggest that the structural integrity of the room has been compromised, with plaster peeling off the walls due to the intense heat.
| Item Destroyed/Damaged | Quantity/Extent |
| Student Benches | 14 Pairs (Completely Burnt) |
| Electric Ceiling Fans | 3 Units |
| Teacher’s Desk & Chair | 1 Set |
| Classroom Interior | Walls blackened; plaster destroyed |
| Adjoining Rooms | Severe soot and smoke damage |
Proximity to Polling Stations
The timing of the fire has drawn scrutiny, given the current political climate and upcoming electoral activities. However, school officials have been quick to clarify that this specific building is not designated as a polling centre. Mr Kawsar noted that while the primary school sits within a larger educational complex, it is the adjacent Beejbag NK High School—located in the same compound—that serves as the official voting venue.
Investigations into the Cause
The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Senbag Police Station, Mohammad Abul Bashar, confirmed that a General Diary (GD) has been filed regarding the incident. “We are exploring all possibilities,” he stated. “Since the building was connected to the power grid and electricity was stable at the time of the incident, an electrical short circuit remains a primary suspicion. However, we have not ruled out other factors.”
The Fire Service official, Md. Eliyas, echoed this sentiment, noting that while the furniture was entirely consumed, the lack of an obvious point of origin necessitates a more thorough forensic look at the electrical wiring.