At least three homes belonging to the minority Hindu community were completely destroyed in a fire in Paschim Dumritala village, located in Pirojpur Sadar Upazila, southern Bangladesh. This incident raised fear and insecurity among local minority residents. The fire broke out around 6:30 am on Saturday, December 27.
Fire turns multiple houses into ashes in Bangladesh
The homes belonged to the Saha family: Palash Kanti Saha, Shib Saha, Dipak Saha, Shyamalendu Saha, and Ashok Saha. The affected families reported that the fire burned all their belongings, including furniture, cash, land documents, educational certificates, and other important papers.
No residents were inside the houses. Most members of Palash’s household were visiting relatives. Palash had stayed overnight in Pirojpur town. An old aged family member, Sandhya Saha, first noticed the fire when she stepped outside early in the morning. When she returned, she saw flames consuming Palash’s house and raised an alarm. The fire quickly spread to the neighboring houses.
Local residents rushed to the scene and tried to put out the fire, but it intensified and was beyond their control. Fire Service personnel arrived later and were able to manage the blaze after a prolonged effort.
Regarding the incident, Jugol Biswas, Warehouse Inspector of the Pirojpur Fire Service and Civil Defence Station, said that the exact cause of the fire has not yet been identified. The cause will be determined after an investigation is finished.
Police investigating aim behind house destruction by fire
This is not the first incident of fire in the area. Several houses were also destroyed by fire in a neighboring home two years ago. Repeated fire incidents have created fear and insecurity among the local Hindu community, especially amid rising concerns over attacks and insecurity faced by religious minorities in parts of Bangladesh.
India has expressed concern over the attacks on Hindus and other minorities. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned these attacks on the Hindu community in Bangladesh. On Friday, India voiced serious concern over the ongoing violence against religious minorities, particularly Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists.
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