Bus set on fire in capital ahead of 48-hr countrywide hartal

Miscreants on Saturday set a passenger bus on fire in capital's Gulistan on the eve of the 48-hour countrywide hartal called by BNP, to protest the announcement of the national polls schedule by the Election Commission on November 15.

Talha Bin Zashim, station officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence (media cell), confirmed the matter. He said, "The attack on the 'Komol Parinbahan' bus in front of Gulistan Toll Plaza was reported around 7:48 pm on Saturday."

Responding to the call, two firefighting units from Siddique Bazar Fire Station rushed to the spot to douse the fire, he said.

After the fifth spell of countrywide blockade ended on Thursday, the BNP, Jamaat, and like-minded opposition parties called for the 48-hour hartal beginning on Sunday morning, rejecting the election schedule.