November 22, 2024 16:55 (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Chhattisgarh: 10 Maoists killed during encounter with security forces in Sukma | Baba Siddique murder case: Arrested Akashdeep Gill used a labourer's hotspot to evade tracking, say police | Donald Trump picks 'smart and tough' Pam Bondi as new US Attorney General after Matt Gaetz withdraws | Canadian government denies media report that claims PM Modi knew of Khalistani leader Nijjar's killing | PM Modi bestowed Dominica's highest award at India-CARICOM Summit
Five killed in massive train fire in Bangladesh ahead of polls
Bangladesh
Photo Courtesy: X videograb

Five killed in massive train fire in Bangladesh ahead of polls

| @indiablooms | 06 Jan 2024, 01:45 am

Dhaka: At least five people were killed in Bangladesh after a massive fire erupted in a passenger train on Friday.

Police suspect the train was set ablaze by arsonists amid continued unrest ahead of national elections boycotted by the opposition, news agency AFP reported.

According to media reports, the Benapole Express train, which caught fire, was packed with passengers.

Private broadcaster Somoy TV said some Indian citizens were also traveling on the train, according to the report.

"We have recovered five bodies," police commander Khandaker Al Moin was quoted as saying by AFP.

The report cited witnesses, who said that the fire started in the train at Gopibagh, in an old part of Dhaka close to the capital city’s main rail terminal.

A rescuer told private broadcaster Somoy TV that hundreds of people rushed to rescue passengers out of the burning train.

While many people were pulled out, the task grew difficult as the fire spread quickly, he said.

"We suspect the fire incident was an act of sabotage," police chief Anwar Hossain told AFP, without giving more details.

The previous month, the police and government accused the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of being involved in another train fire, resulting in four fatalities.

BNP rejected the allegation, stating that it was blamed unfairly as part of the government’s plan to muzzle the opposition voices.

Bangladesh will elect a new government in national elections scheduled on Sunday but the BNP and dozens of other parties have boycotted, describing the election process as a "sham" vote.

Bangladesh has been witnessing relentless anti-government protests, with thousands of opposition activists demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a protest campaign last year, leading to their arrest.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.