At least four people have been killed two children among them, and others injured in Bangladesh after a passenger train caught fire in a suspected arson attack, according to police officials.
Fire service officer Rakjibul Hasan said that at about 9pm (15:00 GMT), at least four coaches caught fire on the Benapole Express, which was arriving in the capital Dhaka from the western city of Jessore. The fire rapidly raced through the train.
#WATCH | A passenger train was set on fire in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka yesterday (January 5) ahead of the country's general election this weekend.
At least four people died aboard the intercity train, reports Reuters quoting local newspaper Dhaka Tribune.
(Source: Reuters) pic.twitter.com/FoFZVsqZ6u
— ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2024
Mohid Uddin, deputy chief of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, described the incident as act of planned sabotage to create panic among the citizens before the elections.
“We will definitely find out the culprits involved in such heinous attacks,” Uddin said.
The incident on Friday adds to a tense environment in the country in advance of Sunday’s elections, which the opposition is seeking to boycott and disrupt with a general strike.
