A serious incident of arson has shaken the Lakshmipur District Election Office after a fire broke out in the early hours of Saturday, causing damage to vital documents and office equipment. The blaze erupted at approximately 4:00 a.m., engulfing a ground-floor room and destroying several important records before it could be brought under control.
Initial investigations by election authorities strongly suggest that the fire was deliberately started using petrol. CCTV footage installed at the premises has provided crucial evidence, capturing the entire sequence of events. The footage shows a masked young man scaling the high western boundary wall of the election office during the quiet pre-dawn hours. After entering the compound, he remained inside for a short period before flames suddenly became visible inside a room on the ground floor. Moments after igniting the fire, the suspect fled the scene by climbing back over the same wall. The entire operation was carried out swiftly, lasting only a few minutes.
Lakshmipur Sadar Upazila Election Officer Md Faruk Hossain confirmed the findings from the CCTV footage. He stated that the video clearly shows the masked individual pouring petrol inside the room before setting it alight. At the time of the incident, the on-duty security guard was asleep inside the building. He was alerted only after sensing heat and smoke, at which point he shouted for help. The alarm appears to have prompted the arsonist to escape immediately.
The fire caused significant damage to administrative records, including second copies of voter registration forms from 2008 and 2009, which are considered highly important for official reference and verification. In addition, several office items were destroyed or damaged, including an old desktop computer, its CPU, and other stored equipment.
District Election Officer Md Abdur Rashid described the incident as deeply unfortunate but noted that a larger disaster was averted thanks to the timely response. He explained that the fire was detected quickly and extinguished before it could spread to other parts of the building. A detailed inventory of the damaged documents and equipment is currently being prepared.
Fire Service and Civil Defence personnel rushed to the scene after being informed, although the fire had already been largely extinguished by office staff and security personnel by the time they arrived. Later, senior police officials and the Deputy Commissioner visited the site to assess the situation and review security arrangements.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Rezaul Haque said the incident appears to be a premeditated act of sabotage. He confirmed that efforts are underway to identify and arrest those responsible, with CCTV footage and other sources of information being thoroughly analysed. He also assured that legal action would be taken following the investigation and that security at the district election office would be strengthened to prevent any recurrence of such incidents.