In addition to the dead, eight people were injured when the fire spread to four compartments of the Dhaka-bound Benapole Express at around 9pm on Friday (January 5).
A passenger train is set on fire ahead of general elections in Dhaka, Bangladesh on January 5, 2024. Photo: Reuters
The incident is believed to be linked to Bangladesh's general election on Sunday (January 7), which the main opposition party is boycotting. Specifically, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has said the election is being "rigged".
Anti-election protests have been ongoing in Bangladesh since late October and have left many people dead. Last month, protesters also set fire to a train, killing four people in a nationwide protest called by the opposition.
Fire service official Shahjahan Sikder said the fire in Dhaka’s Wari area was brought under control by seven fire brigades after about an hour. “Investigation is underway but it appears that the train was deliberately set on fire,” said railway police official Ferdous Ahmed.
An official at Wari police station said police suspected “sabotage” and could only confirm the cause of the fire after an investigation. The BNP has asked people to abstain from voting and called for two days of nationwide protests from Saturday.
About 800,000 police, paramilitary and auxiliary police will guard polling stations in Bangladesh on Sunday. Army, navy and air force officers have also been deployed across the country to maintain stability.
Hoang Anh (according to Reuters, CNA)
Source
Comment (0)