Farmer family loses home in ‘arson attack’

A family of 15 has been living in the open for over nine days after their house in Patgram upazila was burned down in an alleged arson attack by their neighbour.

The incident took place in Sohagpur village around midnight on November 22 when all inhabitants of the house were asleep.

Farmer Nabi Uddin, the homeowner, said all his belongings and crops, worth about Tk 15 lakh, were destroyed after the fire engulfed the five-room house, a kitchen shed and a cowshed.

He has a long-running dispute with his neighbour Tofi Uddin over a piece of land, about 10 decimals, and life threats had been made on him and his family members over the dispute in the past, Nabi claimed.

The day the house was set alight, Tofi Uddin’s son Rafiqul Islam, 35, threatened to throw them out of the village, claimed one of Nabi’s sons, Mominul Islam, 36.

After Patgram police refused to record any case following the house fire, he filed the case with a court in Lalmonirhat on November 28, added Mominul.

The same day, the Court of Senior Judicial Magistrate in Lalmonirhat Afaz Uddin ordered officer-in-charge (OC) of Patgram Police Station to record the case and arrest the accused -- nine named and 5 to 6 unnamed individuals.

Sumon Kumar Mahanta, the OC of the police station, said they visited the scene and process was underway for taking necessary action as per the court order.