Four Polling Stations Set on Fire in Bangladesh

News February 12, 2026

In Bangladesh's Netrakona district, four polling stations were set on fire today, February 12, two days before the 13th National Election, in Sadar and Purba Dala towns.

Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mamun Sarkar confirmed that unidentified individuals set fire to three government primary schools designated as polling stations in Sadar town and one government primary school in Purba Dala town on February 10 at 3:30 PM.

Although the schools designated as polling stations were damaged in the fires, fire service personnel were able to control the blaze in time. Investigations are currently ongoing to identify the perpetrators.

The burned polling stations were Bamun Moha, Pala, and Sreedharpur government primary schools in Sadar town and Hironpur government primary school in Purba Dala town.

This incident reflects the tense security situation ahead of the election. Election authorities have announced that out of 2,131 polling stations nationwide, 1,614 have been designated as "important," with 37 among them classified as "most at risk."

Seven security personnel will be deployed at each of the highest-risk polling stations, and approximately 25,000 security force members have already been trained for election duty.

According to a statement from human rights organization ASK, 58 incidents of political violence occurred across Bangladesh between February 1 and 10, resulting in two deaths and 489 injuries.

Election observers say these pre-election arson attacks will impact voter security and the ability to conduct the election smoothly.