As of Sunday afternoon, no case has been filed regarding the fire at the home of a BNP leader in Laxmipur Sadar. Police have said that there is no “credible” evidence to suggest the incident was caused by sabotage, a position echoed by the Fire Service. However, the BNP leader claimed that the doors were locked from the outside, preventing him from escaping.

The matter was first reported in a press release signed by Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration & Finance) Hosain Mohammad Raihan Kazemi on Saturday night. The statement, citing the family, claimed that miscreants allegedly set the house on fire by locking the door and pouring petrol, as reported on media and social networks. Preliminary investigations, however, found no credible evidence linking the incident to any miscreant or mob.

Police have requested that anyone with evidence related to the fire share it with authorities. The release stated that a thorough investigation is underway, and if evidence confirms the doors were locked and petrol used intentionally, appropriate legal action will follow.

The fire reportedly occurred late Friday night in Sutar Gopta area of Char Manza village under Bhabaniganj Union, Laxmipur Sadar. Belal Hossain, a BNP leader, allegedly had his house set on fire after the doors were locked from outside and petrol was poured inside.

Seven-year-old Ayesha Akter died in the blaze, while Belal Hossain (50) and his two other daughters, Beethi Akter (17) and Smriti Akter (14), suffered severe burns. Beethi and Smriti were sent to the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute for treatment, while Belal is being treated at Laxmipur Sadar Hospital. The house was completely destroyed in the fire.

Belal Hossain, who serves as the co-organizing secretary of Bhabaniganj Union BNP and runs a fertilizer and pesticide business in Sutar Gopta market, told Prothom Alo on Saturday afternoon that both doors of the house were locked. He said he had to remove part of the tin fencing to escape with his daughters and wife. He recounted that the youngest daughter was calling out to him, but due to the intense fire and smoke, he could not see her and eventually could not enter the house again as the fire intensified.

However, the Fire Service has found no evidence supporting Belal’s claim. Station Officer Ranjit Kumar Das said, “When we arrived, a child was already deceased. We have not found evidence to confirm that the doors were locked and petrol was used to set the fire.”

OC of Laxmipur Sadar Model Police Station, Wahid Parvez, added that no case has been filed yet. The question of whether the doors were locked is still unverified. “The matter is being investigated seriously, with multiple police teams working on it,” he said.