48-hr blockade: Rickshaw-puller burnt in arson attack hospitalized

A 40-year-old rickshaw-puller, who sustained severe burn injuries in an arson attack on a bus on the eve of the latest 48-hour blockade in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area last night, was admitted to a city hospital.

Dr Tarikul Islam, a resident physician of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, confirmed the development, saying that the rickshaw-puller was admitted to the hospital with 20% burns.

Earlier last night, unidentified miscreants set a bus of Anabil Paribahan on fire in front of a fruit market in Jatrabari around 9:27pm.

Later, two firefighting units from Postogola Fire Station reached the scene to douse the blaze.

A total of nine arson attacks were reported across the country from 8pm last night to 6am on Sunday, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence.

Of them, seven buses were set on fire in parts of Dhaka, while a pickup van in Gazipur and a bus in Barishal were burned.

For the fourth time, BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties have called a countrywide blockade of roads, rail lines, and waterways to press home their one-point demand ahead of the national election.

Source: UNB