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Nurul Islam's 36-hour fight for life ends

Staff Correspondent
Ganotantri Party President Nurul Islam died yesterday afternoon after 36 hours of fight for life with fatal burn
SEE PAGE 15 COL 3 FROM PAGE 1
injuries at Combined Military I lospital (CM! 1) in the capital.
Nurul Islam, a nominee of the Awami League-led grand alliance for the upcoming parliamentary election lor Noakhali-1 constituency, suffered burns in a mysterious fire at his Lalmatia apartment around 3:30am on Wednesday. His son Tamohar Islam Puchi was burnt alive in tireblaze.
CMH sources said Nurul Islam succumbed to his injuries .it 4:35pm yesterday.
He was kept at the Intensive Care Unit (K U) under the treatment of Brig Gen Dr Harun ur Rashid and Col Dr HM Del war Hossain.
With 10 percent of his body burnt and respiratory organ affected, the Ganotantri Party president was shifted to the CM11 from the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of Dhaka Medical .College Hospital (DMCH) Wednesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Nurul Islam's wife and daughter were scheduled return from US last night, and the father and the son would be buried today, said the late leader's brother-in-law BM Hasim. "We want to bury them in a graveyard in Dhaka. His wife and daughter will however take the final decision in this regard," he added.
Relatives and political associates of Nurul Islam suspect that the fire at his apartment might have been an arson, and political rivals or Islamist militants could have a hand in it. They also said the crime might have been committed to 'toil theelection.'
Tire Awami League-led 14-party alliance yesterday termed the incident an 'act of sabotage’ and asked for a proper probe into it to bring the culprits to book.
A three-member committee headed by Masudur Rahman, deputy assistant director of fire service, was formed to investigate the matter and submit its report within threedays.
The body of Nurul Islam was sent to Dhaka Medical College morgue last night for autopsy.
Contacted, Mahbubor
Rahman, DMPdeputycommissioner (DC) of Tejgaon zone, said, " The reason behind the lire will be known when we get reports from the fire service and experts of the Criminal Investigation Department."
Meanwhile* the filet tion Commission will defer polling in Noakhali-1 constituency.
Chief Election Commissioner AIM Shamsul Huda told reporters yesterday that as per electoral law, rescheduling of election in the constituency would be announced soon.
ALTERMS IT SABOTAGE
fhe AL-led 14-party combine yesterday said the lire that killed Nurul Islam and his son was an act of sabotage and asked for investigating it properly to bring theculpritstobook.
I he alliance at a meeting at the political office of AL President Sheikh Hasina observed a minute's silence in memory of theGanotantri Party leader.
Briefing newsmen later, AL presidium member Abdur Razzak said Matia Chowdhury, another presidium member, received a letter from banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).
The letter and a CD sent by JMB’s media wing contained arguments seeking to justify their militant activities.
Razzak said, "lire government is silently tolerating such acts of militancy. It is merely calling for resisting those but it is not taking any effective steps in this regard. "
Earlier on the day, Matia told reporters that her party would accept the results of the upcorn -i ng parliamentary election if it is free and fair.
"We'll accept whatever the results of the election if it is held in an atmosphere which is free, fair and acceptable to all," she said in response to US Senator John McCain’s call to all to accept both victory and defeat.
Inaugurating a training session for Jubo Mohila League polling agents at the AL central office, Matia also said if voted to power, her party would ensure good governance in the country.