A shocking incident of deliberate arson has sent ripples of alarm through the administrative corridors of Lakshmipur district, as a masked intruder set fire to the local election office in the dead of night. The blaze, which erupted at around 4:00 a.m. on Saturday, caused significant damage to critical documents and office equipment, though swift action prevented what could have been a far more devastating disaster.
Preliminary investigations by election officials have confirmed that the fire was no accident, but a premeditated act of sabotage. Footage captured by the office’s CCTV cameras reveals the chilling sequence of events. In the early hours of the morning, a young man wearing a mask scaled the western boundary wall of the office compound. After spending a brief period inside, flames were seen engulfing a room on the ground floor. Within minutes, the intruder had fled the scene by the same route.
Speaking to reporters, Lakshmipur Sadar Upazila Election Officer Md. Faruk Hossain stated that the CCTV footage clearly shows the individual pouring petrol before igniting the fire. At the time, the security guard on duty was asleep inside the building. It was only after sensing smoke and heat that he awoke and raised the alarm, prompting nearby residents and staff to rush to the scene. Officials believe the guard’s call for help forced the arsonist to flee quickly.
The fire destroyed numerous important administrative documents, including second copies of voter registration forms from 2008 and 2009, which are considered essential for verification and reference purposes. In addition, an old desktop computer, its CPU, and other stored equipment were damaged.
District Election Officer Md. Abdur Rashid described the incident as deeply regrettable but praised the rapid response that prevented greater loss. A detailed inventory of the damaged documents and equipment is currently being prepared. Fire service and civil defence personnel arrived promptly on learning of the blaze, though much of the fire had already been contained by staff and security personnel. Senior police officials and the district commissioner later inspected the site and reviewed the security arrangements.
Additional Police Superintendent (Sadar Circle) Rezaul Haque confirmed that the attack appeared to be a carefully planned act of vandalism. Authorities are analysing CCTV footage and other evidence to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. He added that legal action will follow and that security measures at the district election office will be strengthened to prevent any recurrence.
