IAB demands immediate action over arson attack on election office in Narail

Prof Mahbubur Rahman, convener of the Central Election Management Committee of the Islami Andolon of Bangladesh and a member of the party’s presidium, on Monday demanded the immediate arrest and punishment of those responsible for setting fire to an election campaign office in Narail-1 constituency.

In a statement sent by Sheikh Fazlul Karim Maruf, Mahbub said the election office of Maulana Abdul Aziz, the party-nominated candidate for Narail-1, was set on fire late Monday night at Bisali Union No- 7 under Narail Sadar Upazila.

The blaze completely destroyed all furniture and materials inside the office.

Describing the incident as a serious blow to the electoral code of conduct and democratic culture, Prof Mahbubur Rahman urged the administration to take swift and decisive action.

He said, “Those involved must be brought under the law immediately and given exemplary punishment.”

Referring to accounts from local residents, he said there had been an altercation earlier on Monday evening between supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami and IAB activists of over election campaigning.

He called for an investigation to determine whether the dispute was linked to the arson, adding that the incident might also be the result of sabotage by “defeated forces.”