Dhaka: The fire that erupted in an
industrial area three days ago continued to burn hundreds of tones of books at a government complex amid growing suspicion of sabotage behind the blaze.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina termed the fire that broke
out on Sunday at the National Curriculum and Textbook Board
warehouse in Tejgaon industrial area, as the biggest challenge
of her government after the February mutiny by paramilitary
Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) border force.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid told Samokal
newspaper that "this is visibly a case of sabotage" while a
Prime Minister's spokesman told that Hasina has ordered
fresh textbooks to be printed so that schools could start the
new academic year from January 2010.
"The government for the first time was preparing to
distribute all school textbooks free of cost which affected
the interest of many quarters, a situation which is likely to
have a link with the blaze," he said.
Over a dozen fire tenders are battling the blaze with
Army’s and Navy's help. At least 10 people were injured in the
incident.
"The fire already burnt hundreds of tones of books while
the blaze is still on," a textbook board official told.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 14:33