Criminals set the house of an expatriate afire at KC Chaltibunia village under Morrelganj upazila of Bagerhat district early yesterday.

Asad Howlader, son of Moslem Ali Howlader, came to his village from Dubai along with his wife Soheli Begum and two sons Zia, 7, and Javed, 3, on April 1, on receiving information of his mother's death.

He left Morrelganj for Dubai on April 22, leaving his wife and sons at village home.

Police said the criminals set fire to the house at around 3:30am when Soheli and her two sons were asleep. She woke up hearing noise outside and managed to get out of the house with her two sons.

The incident was a sequel to intra-party rivalry in Awami League Morrelganj unit centring the election to

Khaulia Union Parishad held on April 3, said ASP Sohrab Hossain, also in charge of Morrelganj circle.

He said Gaffar Howlader, younger brother of expatriate Asad Howlader, had campaigned for Abdul Hye Khan in the election.

Abdul Hye Khan, vice president of Morrelganj upazila unit of Awami League, contested the election for the post of chairman of Khaulia Union Parishad. His rival candidate was Abul Khair, president of Khaulia unit of the party. Khair won the election.

Police quoted family sources as saying that valuables worth over Tk 25 lakh and a sum of Tk 1,20,000 (One lakh and twenty thousand) were gutted in the fire.

Locals strongly protested the incident and demanded exemplary punishment to the culprits involved.

No case was filed with Morrelganj Police Station in connection with the incident as of 5:00pm yesterday.