Arson Strikes BNP Election Office in Noakhali

Noakhali, 2 February 2026 – In the early hours of Monday morning, a BNP election office in the Noakhali-3 constituency was engulfed in flames, causing significant damage to the property. The fire, which broke out at around 4:00 a.m., destroyed office furniture and equipment, while a neighbouring scrap goods shop was partially damaged.

According to local BNP leaders, the incident was a deliberate act of arson. Party officials have alleged that activists affiliated with the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami were involved in setting the fire, claiming it was intended to intimidate voters supporting the BNP candidate.

However, Jamaat-e-Islami officials have strongly denied the allegations. Begumganj Upazila Amir Abduz Zaher told reporters that the party’s local leaders and activists would never engage in such actions, dismissing the accusations as politically motivated and baseless.

The BNP candidate for Noakhali-3 is Vice Chairman Barkatullah Bulu, while Jamaat-e-Islami has fielded Mohammad Borhan Uddin as its candidate in the same constituency.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, Kamakhya Chandra Das, President of the Upazila BNP, estimated the losses at around BDT 1.4–1.5 million. He stated, “This was a planned attack by Jamaat. They set fire to our office to terrorise voters supporting the Dhaner Sheesh [BNP’s electoral symbol]. A formal complaint will be lodged with the local police.”

Meanwhile, Begumganj Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge, Shamsuzzaman, confirmed that a fire had indeed occurred at the office but said the cause remained unclear. “We will investigate and take necessary action if a formal complaint is filed,” he added.

The incident has raised concerns over election-related violence in the region, coming ahead of the highly contested polls in Noakhali-3, where political rivalry between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami has intensified over the past weeks.

Summary of Incident

Authorities are monitoring the situation closely as local political leaders call for heightened security at campaign offices to prevent further incidents.