Cowshed, straw set on fire in Jhenaidah

A heap of straw beside a house was set on fire in Natabaria-Raghunathpur village under Kaliganj upazila of Jhenaidah around midnight on Saturday.

The house belongs to Nirmol Kumar Haldar, 75, of the village.

"Someone set fire to the heap of straw close to the house around midnight. We were asleep when the fire spread to the cowshed. Seeing the fire, our neighbour Farzel Hossain informed us at 1:30am. Another neighbour, Abdus Salam, informed the Kaliganj Fire Service Station. Firefighters soon arrived and doused the blaze," said Nirmol.

Nirmol's son, Proshanto Kumar Haldar, a writer and dramatist, said they were unable to say who might be behind the incident, adding that they are on good terms with all neighbours.

The damage caused by the fire could be worth around Tk 75,000, said Shahidul Islam, acting chief of the fire service station.

"I visited the spot after receiving the information. Steps will be taken if any culprit is identified," said Kaliganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Dedarul Islam.