Trains Set On Fire, Polling Stations And Schools Torched In Bangladesh Pre-Poll Violence. Top Points

A train was set on fire while schools, some of which were to be used as polling stations, were torched by miscreants in Bangladesh ahead of general election to be held on Sunday.

Pre-poll violence has marred the neighbouring Bangladesh which is slated to undergo general elections on Sunday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina almost certain of retaining her office for the fourth consecutive term. Over 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties, beside 436 independents are in the fray for Sunday voting, boycotted by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party. 

But ahead of the polls, incidents of violence have been reported from the South Asian country sandwiched between India territories on the three sides. Amidst violence, the BNP has called for a 48-hour nationwide strike against the “illegal government.” 

• A passenger train was torched by miscreants in Dhaka's Gopibagh on Friday night. At least four people were killed in the incident. 


• Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) Mahid Uddin claimed that the attack on Benapole Express was planned, as per a Dhaka Tribune report. 


• “We cannot say for sure who carried out the arson attack but it is sabotage for sure,” he said while talking to the journalists in the capital’s Gopibagh. 


• In another incident, a primary school designated as a polling centre was set ablaze by miscreants at Chandona village of Chunarughat upazila in Habiganj district on Friday, reported Dhaka Tribune. 


• Officials said they were trying to identify the arsonists as three rooms, benches, desks, chairs, tables, doors, and the tin roof were gutted in the fire.


• Two more educational institutions in Gazipur city were set on fire in the early hours of Saturday of which one will be used as a polling station on Sunday. 


• Rafiqul Islam, inspector (investigation) of Bason police station confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune saying that TNT Ideal High School was torched in the wee hours of Saturday. 


• Nine classrooms, an office, and educational material were charred in the incident, he added.


• Another group of miscreants set fire to East Chandana Government Primary School, which was to be used as a polling station, in the city's Bason area at around 1:30 am on Saturday. 


• As per several reports four polling stations have been set ablaze by miscreants in the country ahead of its general elections.