At least nine vehicles, including two government staff buses and a BRTC double-decker bus, were set on fire in different locations of the capital on Thursday.
Firefighters extinguished the flames of total seven vehicles, while locals and pedestrians put out the fire of two other buses, reports UNB.
Officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence Control Room Russell Ahmed said that the first bus was torched in front of the Madhumita Cinema Hall at around 12:35pm. The second one was set afire beside the Pir Yamini Market in Gulistan at around 1:30pm.
Another bus was torched beside Katabon in the Shahbagh area and another at Shahjahanpur of Khilgaon at around 1:47pm.
Later, at around 2:02pm, another bus was torched in front of the Bangladesh Secretariat, the sixth one was burnt at Naya Bazar area around 2:28pm and the seventh one at the Coca-Cola crossing of Bhatara at around 4:32pm.
Sources at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said that a BRTC double-decker bus was set afire in front of Pubali Petrol Pump of Motijheel at around 3pm and another vehicle was torched near the BNP headquarters in Paltan around 2:05pm.
No casualties have so far been reported and all the fires were doused, said Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters' adding that the reasons behind the incidents are yet to be ascertained.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune, Walid Hossain, deputy commissioner (media) of DMP, said: “We are suspecting that the incidents of arson are related to the Dhaka 18 by-polls.”
“We will find out those behind this. The media will be informed then.”
