Short circuit likely cause of fire at MP Nusrat’s house: Salahuddin

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said a short circuit was the most likely cause of the fire at the village home of reserved-seat MP Nusrat Tabassum.

However, he said the government would take appropriate action if further investigation revealed evidence of sabotage.

The home minister made the remarks in parliament on Thursday. 

He said an investigation has been ordered to determine whether the fire at the lawmaker’s house was accidental or deliberately set.

Citing the preliminary investigation report, Salahuddin said there was no indication that petrol bombs were used in the incident. 

He said the old electrical wiring at the house was likely to have caused a short circuit.

Earlier, Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam raised the issue under a point of order, alleging that four petrol bombs were used to set fire to Nusrat Tabassum’s house.

Later, addressing parliament, the home minister said an investigation has been ordered to determine whether the fire had broken out accidentally or had been deliberately set. 

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Fire Service and Civil Defence, police and local administration would jointly investigate the incident, he said.

Citing the BGB’s preliminary report, Salahuddin said no sound resembling a petrol bomb explosion was reported, and there were no signs of petrol bomb impacts on the walls of the house.

Investigators had also received no testimony indicating the use of petrol bombs. Overall, the preliminary assessment suggested that no petrol bombs were used in the incident, he added.