UP Chairman Accused of Arson After Attempted Rape Case

Babul Howlader, the acting chairman of Badarpur union in Patuakhali Sadar upazila, has been accused of orchestrating an arson attack on the house of a woman who had previously filed an attempted rape case against him.

Local sources reported that unidentified assailants set fire to the woman’s house in Mithapur village late last night. The fire spread rapidly, forcing the family to flee. Despite the efforts of locals to contain the flames, much of the house was destroyed.

The victim and her family believe the attack was carried out at the instigation of Howlader and his associates, claiming they had received threats since filing the case against him, which included allegations of attempted rape and looting. They also stated that a powerful local group had been pressuring them to withdraw the case.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Patuakhali Sadar Police Station, Imtiaz Ahmed, confirmed that an investigation is underway, and legal action will be taken against those responsible.

Efforts to contact Babul Howlader for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to phone calls.