Staff Reporter :
In the capital’s Mirpur, miscreants set fire to a passenger bus of Alif Paribahan. The incident took place around 7:15 am on Friday near metro rail pillar no. 266 in Shewrapara. After forcing passengers to get off, the assailants fired shots and then set the bus ablaze. No casualties were reported in the incident.
Kafrul Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdullah Al Mamun said the bus was heading from Mirpur towards Agargaon. On the way, a group of miscreants signaled the bus to stop. They then assaulted the driver and his assistant before forcing them off the bus. In panic, the passengers also got off. At that moment, the miscreants fired several rounds at the front glass of the bus and set it on fire.
Citing primary investigation, police said the arson attack might have stemmed from a dispute over the appointment of a “checker” in Alif Paribahan. The OC added that there had been trouble centering on the recruitment of a bus checker, and this conflict is suspected to have triggered the incident. The bus authorities alleged that recently, a man named Nesar had injured their staff while demanding extortion money. They suspect he may also be linked to this attack.
Mohammad Maksudur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of Mirpur Division Police, said some workers had been laid off from the bus company, and out of anger, those workers might be involved in the incident. He added that the real cause would be known after investigation and that legal action is being taken.
The fire service rushed to the scene immediately after the incident and brought the flames under control within 15 minutes. Fire Service Duty Officer Rashed Bin Khalid said a few young men set the bus on fire and quickly fled. However, no casualties occurred. Police said they are trying to identify the arsonists by collecting footage from nearby closed-circuit cameras and statements from eyewitnesses.
The bus suffered significant damage in the fire. Fire Service Duty Officer Rashed Bin Khalid said they received the fire report at around 7:15 am. Three to four young men set the Alif Paribahan bus on fire. Two fire service units doused the flames. The bus was traveling from Mirpur towards Agargaon. Although the bus was not completely gutted, it sustained considerable damage. He added that the vehicle had been taken into police custody from the scene.
