Police announces Tk 500,000 for Jatrabarhi arsonist tip-off

Bangladesh Police have announced Tk 500,000 reward for anyone helping to catch the arsonists who torched a bus on Friday evening in capital Dhaka’s Jatrabarhi.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 24 Jan 2015, 03:10 PM
Updated : 24 Jan 2015, 03:10 PM

Twenty-seven people suffered burns in that fire. Six of them are in a critical condition and undergoing treatment at the burns unit of the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.

The police announcement seeking citizens’ help came on Saturday after the RAB and the government earlier announced similar rewards.

The rewards are being announced at a time when Bangladesh is in the grips of a BNP-led indefinite transport blockade that has unleashed shocking violence across the country since Jan 5.

At least 35 people have been killed and over a hundred people injured in blockade-related violence.

On Friday, 40 people were injured in different arson attacks across Bangladesh. Of them, 27 people suffered burns in Dhaka alone when suspected blockade supporters set a bus ablaze by throwing a Molotov cocktail on Demra Road in Jatrabarhi's Mollar Bridge area.

Police Headquarters spokesperson Qamrul Ahsan told bdnews24.com Tk 500,000 will be given to anyone helping to catch those who torched the bus at Jatrabarhi.

Earlier around Saturday noon, RAB had announced cash rewards of up to Tk 100,000 for information on saboteurs to encourage the citizens to help in nabbing troublemakers.

The elite force’s rewards have been divided into eight categories starting from Tk 10,000.

Its announcement came several days after the government said it would award Tk 100,000 to citizens who would catch miscreants responsible for violence in blockade.