In a suspected act of political arson, a pickup van belonging to a local Jamaat-e-Islami leader was set on fire in Cumilla's Chauddagram this morning (17 November). The incident occurred hours before the International Crimes Tribunal started delivering its verdict against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Chauddagram Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Hilal Uddin Ahmed confirmed the arson attack on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, near the Chauddagram Bazar area.
Witnesses and local sources allege that the attack was a politically motivated act carried out by activists of the recently banned Awami League. The owner of the vehicle, Fazlul Haque Molla, is a leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami in Paschim Dhanmuri village of Chauddagram Municipality.
The vehicle was parked along the highway divider overnight. According to Molla, the pickup was scheduled to leave shortly after Fajr prayers to transport fish from Feni.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing two assailants on a motorcycle douse the vehicle with petrol before setting it ablaze. Fire service personnel and locals rushed to the scene but could not prevent the van from being destroyed.
OC Ahmed confirmed that miscreants had burned the pickup truck parked on the highway and stated that police are actively working to identify and apprehend the culprits.