Joint investigation ordered into MP Nusrat Tabassum's house fire: Home Minister
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Thursday (November 12) said the government has ordered a joint investigation involving police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Fire Service and Civil Defence, and the civil administration into the fire at the village home of reserved women seat lawmaker Nusrat Tabassum from NCP in Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia.
He said the investigation would examine all possible causes, including allegations of sabotage.
However, preliminary findings have found no evidence of the use of petrol bombs at the scene. Investigators are also examining the possibility that an electrical short circuit caused the fire due to the old wiring in the house, he said.
The home minister made the disclosure while responding to remarks by Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam on the issue in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) today.
Salahuddin Ahmed said the fire broke out at around 12:20 am on November 12 at the lawmaker's village home in Baguanara village under Mathurapur Union of Daulatpur upazila, about 7.4 kilometres from the border.
The tin-shed and semi-concrete house was unoccupied at the time of the incident. Her parents were staying in a three-storey building about 20 metres away from the house, he added.
He said the Fire Service rushed to the spot after receiving information and brought the fire under control. An additional superintendent of police and the officer-in-charge (OC) of the local police station visited the scene.
The minister also sent the superintendent of police to inspect the site.
A BGB team visited the location as it is situated in a border area. The home minister said he had already ordered an investigation to determine whether the fire was accidental or deliberately set.
Referring to the BGB's preliminary observations, he said no information suggested that people had heard any explosion resembling a petrol bomb blast.
Investigators also found no signs of petrol bomb use on the walls of the house, while no eyewitness reported such an incident.
He said the house contained some shoemaking equipment belonging to a caretaker, clothes and two goats. Both goats died in the fire. Investigators are collecting photographs, video footage and other evidence from the scene, he added.
The minister said the preliminary examination found that the house had old electrical connections and wiring. A photograph also indicated a possible electrical short circuit, making it difficult to rule out an electrical fault as the cause of the fire.
He said the authorities could not reach a final conclusion before completing the investigation.
Salahuddin Ahmed said police had already recorded a general diary (GD) over the incident on November 12 and were investigating the matter accordingly.
He assured the House that the authorities would take appropriate action if the investigation established any involvement in sabotage.
The minister said he did not want to make any speculative comments before the investigation concluded.
Source: BSS