The firebombing took place in the district’s Shajahanpur area.
The jailing of Tarique Rahman, son of the then prime minister Khaleda Zia, angered BNP leaders and activists, especially the party’s supporters in Bogura, a BNP stronghold. Tarique has been jailed for life along with 18 others in the verdict.
Police arrested Nur Mohammad, 30, as a key suspect in the firebombing. He is a Bogura-based member of Jubo Dal, the youth wing of the BNP.
The injured have been identified as Munira Begum, 40, wife of Nazrul Islam of Nilphamari’s Shimulbari village, and Anjuara Begum, 50, wife of Mozammel Haque of Sadar Upazila.
The driver stopped the bus after the miscreants hurled a bomb at the vehicle, according to Amina Khatun, a witness from Uttar Balapara in the Upazila.
The attackers also vandalised the bus operated by Nabil Paribahan. Amina and her child jumped out of the bus’s window when a seat in front of her was set ablaze.
Aslam Hossain, the driver of the damaged bus, said the attackers first targeted a truck and a bus, but they missed the targets.
The attackers then firebombed a second bus, leaving the two women injured.