After visiting Nusrat's burnt home, opposition says no sign of short circuit, announces separate probe

An opposition parliamentary delegation has expressed doubts about a fair investigation into the arson attack on the ancestral home of MP Nusrat Tabassum in Daulatpur, Kushtia. After visiting the damaged house, the delegation said it had found no sign of an electrical short circuit. It also announced that opposition MPs would investigate the incident separately to uncover the real facts.

Members of the delegation made the remarks at a press conference after visiting the damaged house at around 4pm on Friday. The team was led by Advocate Abdullah Al Amin, joint convener and political council member of the National Citizen Party (NCP). NCP joint convener Dr Mahmuda Mitu, Kushtia-2 MP Abdul Gafur and Nusrat Tabassum were also present.

At the press conference, Abdullah Al Amin said that on visiting the scene they found no evidence of an electrical short circuit. Yet the home minister had already spoken in parliament about a possible short circuit as the cause of the fire before the investigation was finished. This, he said, raised questions about how independently the investigation committee would be able to work.

Abdullah Al Amin added that opposition MPs would review the incident separately, prepare a report and place the real facts before the public. He also questioned the government's goodwill in confronting the Awami League.

Dr Mahmuda Mitu said that although the house had been called abandoned, there was evidence that people lived there. They saw children's study tables, books, food and cooking utensils. She said seven people lived in the house.

MP Abdul Gafur said incidents of arson and violence have been taking place at various places in the country in recent times. Commenting on the probable cause of a fire before the investigation report is published amounts to putting pressure on the investigation, he said. He demanded that the real culprits be identified and brought under the law.

Nusrat Tabassum said that when the case was filed, important information, including a suspect's location along with a mobile number, was given to the additional superintendent of police. However, she alleged, no visible progress in the investigation has been seen so far.

Nusrat Tabassum is a joint convener of the NCP and an MP from a reserved women's seat. It has been alleged that a petrol bomb was thrown at her ancestral home in Bagowan village of Daulatpur upazila at around 12:15am on Wednesday night, setting it on fire. Furniture and valuables in the house were burnt and two goats died.

Nusrat Tabassum filed a case as plaintiff at Daulatpur police station on Thursday night over the incident. Eight people have been named in the case, with a further 25 to 30 unidentified people also accused.