ICT prosecutor Zoha's home 'set ablaze' in Magura

Locals say a group of unidentified people entered the property from the back at night, poured petrol on the main gate and window areas, and set them alight

The family home of BTV Director-General (DG) Mahbubul Alam and Tanvir Hassan Zoha, a prosecutor at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), has been hit by an apparent arson attack in Magura.

The incident occurred shortly after 10:30pm on Friday at "Zoha Bhaban", located opposite the Magura District Judge’s Court, according to Mirajul Islam, the district's additional superintendent of police (ASP).

Local residents said a group of unidentified people entered the property from the back at night, poured petrol on the main gate and window areas, and set them alight before fleeing the scene. Neighbours rushed in as the fire spread and managed to bring it under control, preventing major damage.

ASP Mirajul said officers visited the site and collected evidence.

“An investigation is under way and legal action will be taken in accordance with the law,” he said.

An inspection of the scene found plastic bottles containing petrol, suggesting the fire had been deliberately set, police said.

“After noticing the flames, everyone came together to put out the fire. At first, we thought it had been sparked by a tossed cigarette, but later we noticed two 2-litre bottles of petrol,” said Kajol, a neighbour.

Witness Bazlu Rahman said he initially thought it was an ordinary fire, but after seeing the petrol-filled bottles, he suspects that it was a "premeditated arson attack”.

Raising concerns about security, particularly as the building is located in a sensitive area near the District Judge’s Court, Tarun Kumar Bhowmik, owner of a nearby decorator shop, said: “The arsonists took advantage of the fact that no one was in the house and set it on fire. This is extremely worrying.”

The building’s caretaker, Injar Ali Biswas, said: “I had gone to Chaurangi intersection in town to buy medicine for myself. After receiving the news, I rushed back and saw that the fire had spread to the window area.”

Zoha said the incident appeared to be a targeted and planned attack.

BTV DG Mahbubul said, “Such incidents are extremely concerning. The matter is being treated very seriously.”