Bangladesh express train catches fire, 4 dead, police says ‘planned attack”

Anjali Sharma

GG News Bureau
WASHINGTON DC, 7th Jan. According to local media reports on Saturday 4 people died after an intercity Benapole Express train caught fire in Gopibagh, Bangladesh.

The incident took place around 9:05 pm on Friday and at least five compartments of the train have been set ablaze by “miscreants” according to local officials quoted in local news media.

The victims could not be identified yet, they said.

According to the duty officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, Rakibul Hasan, who reported that 7  fire fighting units were brought in to control the fire.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) Mahid Uddin alleged that the Benapole Express train fire was a “planned attack”.

The incident took place two days ahead of Bangladesh’s general elections.

“We cannot say for sure who carried out the arson attack but it is sabotage for sure,” he said.

He added that those who carried out the attack will be brought under the law. “Such behavior towards common people, children and women are inhumane.”

Mahid Uddin said that the people who committed the crime might have disguised themselves as passengers.

Ashraf Hossain, sub-inspector of Dhaka Railway Police Station, said that they received a fire report from the emergency service number around 9:07 pm.

The police officials are still fearing that people could be trapped inside the train, news media reported.