A fire was set at the gate of the Bogura residence of expatriate online activist Pinaki Bhattacharya. The incident took place around 2 a.m. on Tuesday (November 4) in front of the house named ‘Shyama Pakhi’ in the Jaleshwari Tola area of the town.
Although the family initially tried to keep the incident secret, it spread on social media on Wednesday (November 5). Later, around 8 p.m., separate teams led by Additional Superintendent of Police Hossain Mohammad Raihan and Fire Service Assistant Director Manzil Haque visited the scene.
CCTV footage shows that at 2:06 a.m., two young men placed a plastic-like object in front of the gate, set it on fire, took a photo with a mobile phone, and quickly fled. The fire extinguished itself after a short while.
The ground floor of the house is rented out, while Pinaki Bhattacharya’s mother, uncle, and aunt live on the upper floor.
Pinaki’s uncle, Subrata Bhowmik, said, “We have no complaints about the incident,” and requested that it not be publicized in the media.
Additional Superintendent of Police Hossain Mohammad Raihan said, “The police are investigating the matter. Both police and fire service teams have collected evidence from the scene. Preliminary findings suggest that a plastic-like material was set on fire. CCTV footage from nearby areas is being reviewed to identify those involved.”
Khaborwala/TSN
