At least six polling stations were set on fire by unidentified arsonists in Gazipur, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Habiganj, Shariatpur, Moulvibazar, and Patuakhali districts ahead of the Sunday's national election.
Of the total, two each polling stations were set ablaze in Mymensingh and Gazipur districts, one each in Sherpur, Habiganj, Shariatpur, Moulvibazar, and Patuakhali districts Saturday morning.
In Mymensingh, miscreants set fire to two polling stations in Nandail and Gafargaon upazilas of the district early Saturday.
Deputy Commissioner of Mymensingh district and returning officer Dider-e-Alam Mohammad Maksud Chowdhury said unidentified miscreants et fire on Haripur Government Primary School in Nandail and Parshipara Government Primary School in Gafargaon upazila of the district early Saturday.
On information, firefighting units rushed to the spots and extinguished the fire.
Masum Ahmed Bhuiya, superintendent of Mymensingh Police, said five people were arrested in this connection and legal action will be taken after investigation.
In Sherpur, a fire broke out at the store room of Mirzapur Government Primary School at Bajitkhila in Sadar upazila of the district early Saturday.
Some benches were gutted in the fire, said Jabed Hossain Muhammad Tarek, deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence.
Whether it is an act of sabotage or not will be investigated, said Emdadul Haque, officer-in-charge of Sherpur Police Station.
In Gazipur, two polling centers were set on fire by unidentified arsonists in different parts of the district early Saturday.
Kaliakair Upazila Nirbahi Officer and assistant returning officer Hossain Mohammad Hye said miscreants set fire to the office room of Bashtoli Government Primary School in Kaliakair upazila early in the morning.
Meanwhile, a group of miscreants set fire to East Chandana Government Primary School in the Bason area of Gazipur city around 1:30 am.
On information, a firefighting unit rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze.
Miscreants also set fire to TNT Ideal High School at Telipara in the city early Saturday. But it was not a polling centre, said Abdullah Al Arefin, deputy assistant director of Gazipur Fire Service and Civil Defence.
In Habiganj, miscreants set fire to Dolairpar Government Primary School, a polling center at Chandona village of Chunarughat upazila in Habiganj district, on Friday night.
Md Manikuzzaman, in-charge of Chunarughat Fire Station, said miscreants set the school on fire around 12 am.
In Shariatpur, miscreants set fire to a polling centre in Shariatpur's Naria upazila early Saturday.
Shariatpur Police Super Mahbubul Alam confirmed the matter adding that several benches of the center were burnt in the fire incident.
In Moulvibazar, a polling centre was set on fire at the Sadar upazila on Friday night.
Moulvibazar Model Police Station officer-in-charge KM Nazrul said four youths on two motorcycles set fire on the polling station throwing kerosene in a plastic bottle inside the school.
In Patuakhali, miscreants set fire to Sher e Bangla Girls High School, a polling center in Patuakhali Sadar upazila early Saturday.
Patuakhali Sadar Police Station officer-in-charge Md Jasim confirmed the matter, adding that police are trying to identify the arsonists and legal action would be taken in this regard.
SS/MP/SA
