Narayanganj: Following the landslide victory of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the February 12 general elections, the local office of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj was allegedly set on fire in the early hours, local media reported.
The incident took place at around 3:45 am on Saturday in the Shimulia Bazar area, according to Rupganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shabzel Hossain, as reported by The Daily Star.
Unknown miscreants broke a window and threw “gasoline or similar substance” inside before lighting the fire. Police have identified two people as suspects, and the investigation is ongoing.
Providing context on the target premises, Mansur Mia, president of the Rupganj Jubo Dal trade union, said the construction of the office started about a month ago and was completed only a week ago.
He added that the party leaders and activists stayed there till midnight on Friday after which the fire broke out in the early hours of the morning.
According to The Daily Star, local residents helped put out the flames, although furniture and other items inside suffered damage.
Mansur Mia commented: “We suspect it was a petrol bomb. Otherwise the fire would not have spread so quickly.”
Amid speculation about a motive, BNP Upazila General Secretary Bashir Uddin Bacchu hinted that members of rival political groups may have been behind the attack.
OC Shabzel Hossain said local BNP leaders are preparing a formal written complaint and added, “After investigation, necessary legal action will be taken after filing the complaint.”
The arson incident came just days after the BNP under Speaker Tarique Rahman won a decisive majority in the 300-member parliament during the February 12 elections.
The vote was the first since mass protests in 2024 toppled longtime leader Sheikh Hasina.
Voter turnout was around 59%, putting Rahman as prime ministerial candidate, with the main opposition being the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami alliance.
After the results, BNP acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s congratulations on X.
The party thanked him for recognizing Rahman’s leadership and reiterated its commitment to democratic values, inclusiveness and progressive development while looking forward to constructive engagement with India.
Prime Minister Modi had earlier posted his warm congratulations to Rahman on X, noting the people’s confidence in his leadership and India’s support for a democratic and progressive Bangladesh with the hope of strengthening bilateral relations.
Amid a political transition, the newly elected BNP-led government is due to be sworn in at the South Plaza of the National Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.
The interim government’s chief adviser, Muhammad Yunus, invited leaders from 13 countries, including China, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives and Bhutan, to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
BNP ANM leader Ehsanul Hoque Milan on Saturday expressed hope that PM Modi would get an invitation.
He highlighted the party’s inclusive foreign policy of “friends to all, malice to none” and described it as a matter of common courtesy to include regional leaders.