Bus set ablaze in Dhaka's Mirpur

Police suspect an internal row over recruitment at the bus company may have triggered the attack

Unidentified assailants have reportedly set fire to a passenger bus in Dhaka's Mirpur.

The incident took place near metro rail pillar No. 266 in Shewrapara on Friday, according to Kafrul Police Station chief Abdullah Al Mamun.

"Around 7:15am, two or three men arrived and asked all passengers to get off the bus. They then set the vehicle on fire,” said Mamun.

The Alif Paribahan bus had been travelling from Mirpur towards Agargaon.

Police suspect an internal conflict over hiring may have triggered the arson attack.

Citing the bus driver, his aide and sources linked to the bus owners, Mamun said there had been ongoing tensions over the recruitment of a "checker" -- a staff member responsible for ticketing.

“It is initially suspected that the fire was set as part of this dispute."

Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage and speaking to witnesses in an attempt to track down the culprits.

Meanwhile, the fire on the bus was extinguished within 15 minutes of the incident being reported, according to Rashed Bin Khalid, a Fire Service duty officer.

“We were informed that a group of young men had set fire to a bus and quickly fled the scene,” he said.

No casualties were reported, but authorities said that the bus sustained extensive damage.