7 burned alive as pro-blockade activists attack bus

At least seven passengers were burnt alive when a bus was hit by petrol bombs at Comilla's Chouddagram early on Tuesday.

Doctors say the death toll could rise as many other passengers suffered serious burns.

The fire bombing was reported on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway around 3:30am amid the ongoing BNP transport blockade and the three-day nationwide strike.

The assault was carried out by supporters of the blockade, local officials said.

At least 25 passengers suffered burns too.

Comilla Fire Service official Monir Hossain told bdnews24.com that an 'Icon Paribahan' bus was heading for Dhaka from Cox's Bazar when it was attacked by miscreants at Chouddagram Upazila's Jagmohanpur.

Seven passengers were burnt alive because they could not get out of the bus, Hossain said.

He said four fire-fighting units from Comilla and Chouddagram rushed to the spot and put out the fire in the bus.

The injured were first hospitalised at Chouddagram Upazilla Health Complex and then shifted to the Comilla Medical College and Hospitals.

Later, ten of those who had suffered severe burns were shifted to the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, said Comilla hospital Director Habib Abdullah Sohel.

He said the condition of three of these burnt passengers was critical because they had sustained up to 70 percent burns.

Six of the dead had been identified, said Chouddagram police OC Uttam Kumar Chakrabarty.

They are Jessore's Nuruzzaman Poplu, 48 and his 15-year-old daughter Naima Tasnin Maisha, Cox's Bazar's 'Yousuf', 55, and 'Taher', 38, Narsinghdi's Asma Begum, 28, and her 5-year-old daughter 'Shanta'.

More than 50 people have died in violence unleashed by supporters of the BNP-sponsored nationwide indefinite transport blockade since Jan 5.

Most have died of burns suffered in fire bombing.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is pushing for a snap poll, has refused to call off the blockade despite repeated requests by business groups who complain of billions of taka in losses.

The government’s request for calling off the agitation during the SSC exams have also gone unheeded.