A fire that broke out at the home of late schoolteacher Birendra Deb in Sylhet’s Gowainghat was caused by an electrical short circuit, police said, rejecting claims of any communal link.

In a statement issued on Friday night, Assistant Superintendent of Police Md Samrat Talukder said the fire started from a short circuit at the house of Birendra Deb.

The fire broke out on Thursday afternoon at the house in Bahar village, East Para, under Nandirgaon Union of the upazila.

The affected family claimed that goods worth Tk 60 to 70 lakh were destroyed.

Meanwhile, from Thursday evening, photos and videos of the fire began circulating online.

Some social media users claimed the house of Birendra Deb was set on fire for political reasons, while others spread rumors that it was due to his religious identity.

In a statement issued Friday night, Sylhet District Police said a recent fire at a family home in Gowainghat was caused by an electrical short circuit.

While the incident was purely accidental, the police noted that it was being circulated on social media as a communal attack.

The statement added that the fire actually started on Thursday afternoon in the house due to an electrical short circuit. The fire service team later brought the blaze under control.

Police have contacted the victim’s family and inspected the site, confirming that the fire was caused by a short circuit.

No complaints were received from the family, and the police urged the public not to be misled.

The police also urged the public not to be confused about the incident.

The house belongs to the family of the late teacher Birendra Dev, and his four sons live there.

His eldest son, Bikash Chandra Deb, who is also a local school teacher, said the fire started in the straw storage shed, which was attached to the main house.

He added that a short circuit could have caused the fire, which quickly spread to the house.

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He further said that around noon, his wife saw the fire burning in the straw shed and the house while fetching water from the tube well. The flames spread quickly.

Bikash Deb added that his family has no enemies and he has no complaints against anyone.

“It was an accident and, with the help of local people, he is managing to survive despite losing everything,” he added.

Nobo Kumar Singh, Station Manager of Companyganj Fire Service Station, said, “The fire likely started in the straw shed due to an electrical short circuit.”