Bangladesh authorities have detained seven members of the opposition party in connection with an alleged arson attack on a commuter train, resulting in the tragic death of four individuals and leaving eight others injured. The incident unfolded on Friday night as flames consumed the intercity Benapole Express in central Dhaka, prompting a frantic effort by hundreds to rescue passengers trapped in burning carriages.
Law enforcement apprehended Nabiullah Nabi, a senior figure in the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), along with six other party activists, following allegations of orchestrating the attack. According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesman Faruk Hossain, Nabi is accused of financing and plotting the assault.
This tragic incident marks the latest in a series of fires targeting railway services since late last year. Authorities have attributed these incidents to alleged acts of sabotage by the BNP, citing them as attempts to disrupt the national election scheduled for Sunday.
However, the BNP, alongside numerous opposition groups, has boycotted the impending vote, denouncing it as a “sham” designed to consolidate the long-standing rule of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The party vehemently denies any involvement in the fires and has urged an international investigation into the events.
A.K.M Wahiduzzaman, a spokesman for the BNP, stated, “These are pre-planned acts of sabotage by government functionaries aimed at discrediting the non-violent movement of the BNP.”
Meanwhile, Samanta Lal Sen from a Dhaka hospital treating the victims reported that eight individuals remain critically injured from the blaze. Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen condemned the incident, describing it as a “crime against humanity” that aimed to disrupt the democratic process.
Quamrul Ahsan, head of the state-run railway authority, confirmed the suspension of 32 passenger trains over the weekend to bolster passenger safety. He highlighted a series of unprecedented arson attacks targeting trains ahead of the election and mentioned increased security measures on inter-city trains.
As the nation braces for the forthcoming election, marred by violence and opposition protests demanding a neutral caretaker government, observers express concerns about the one-sided nature of the electoral process. The run-up to the vote has witnessed escalating violence, claiming at least 15 lives, while the BNP calls for a general strike to protest the poll over the weekend.
Sources By Agencies