At least four persons were killed and several others were reported to be injured late on Friday night after some unidentified persons set fire to the Dhaka-bound Benapole Express near the Gopibagh area of the capital.
Bangladesh media reported that some unidentified persons torched the train — which was coming from Benapole along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal — at 9.05pm (local time). “Four compartments were set on fire… Seven fire tenders were sent to spot and the flames were doused by 10.20pm,” said a source.
Though there was no official reaction on who all were behind the arson, a source in the Bangladeshi security establishment said that forces that want to derail the election are behind the attack.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies are opposing the election as their demands for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and a poll-time caretaker government have not been met.