Fire at politician’s house, bomb at journalist’s house in Sirajganj

Sirajganj was shaken by two separate acts of violence on Saturday night, as the home of a local Awami League leader was set on fire in Belkuchi, while a petrol bomb attack targeted the residence of a senior journalist in the district town. Although no lives were lost, the incidents have heightened fears over public safety and political tension in the area.

In the first incident, the house of Md Yahia, Organising Secretary of the Daulatpur Union Awami League, was torched in the South Para area of Belkuchi upazila at around 2:00 am. Yahia, whose political activities are currently restricted, was not at home at the time due to ongoing political cases against him. His wife, children and other family members were inside the house when the fire broke out but managed to escape quickly, avoiding serious injury. The blaze, however, caused extensive damage to the living quarters and household furniture.

Speaking after the incident, Yahia claimed the arson was a deliberate attempt to kill him. He said the attackers had exploited his absence to carry out the attack, adding that the timing and manner of the fire suggested clear intent rather than an accidental blaze. Neighbours also described the fire as sudden and intense, reinforcing suspicions of a planned act.

Belkuchi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Farid Uddin confirmed that police visited the scene shortly after receiving reports of the fire. He noted that no formal complaint had been filed by Sunday noon, but assured that legal action would be taken once a written allegation was submitted.

Earlier the same evening, at around 9:00 pm, a separate attack occurred in the Diar Dhangara neighbourhood of Sirajganj town. Petrol bombs were thrown at the home of journalist Shariful Islam Inna, the General Secretary of the Sirajganj Press Club and district correspondent for NTV and the daily Amar Desh. According to Inna, the attack stemmed from ongoing clashes between residents of the Diar Dhangara and Sayagobinda (Bhangabari) neighbourhoods over the past month.

Inna stated that the dispute had been mediated at the police station earlier on Saturday, but later that night six assailants arrived on three motorcycles and hurled two petrol bombs at his house. Two additional nearby houses were also targeted. Fortunately, local residents acted swiftly to extinguish the flames, preventing major damage or injuries.

Sirajganj Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shahidul Islam said police inspected the scene immediately and are reviewing nearby CCTV footage to identify those responsible. As with the arson case, no written complaint had been lodged by Sunday afternoon.

A summary of the two incidents is provided below:

The twin attacks have prompted renewed calls from residents and civil society for stronger preventive measures and swift identification of the perpetrators to prevent further escalation of violence in Sirajganj.