Arson Attacks on Buses and Cocktail Blasts Rock Dhaka, Farmgate Metro Station Temporarily Shut

A bus was set on fire beneath the metro rail station at Farmgate in the capital on Monday evening, causing panic and a temporary suspension of metro services. The incident occurred around 6:30 pm when the burning bus, engulfed in flames, came to a halt near the station.

Farmgate Incident and Station Closure

Eyewitnesses reported that thick black smoke from the blazing bus rose into the metro station, prompting passengers to flee in panic. According to sources at Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), the bus was set on fire right next to the station's diesel generator. The smoke triggered the fire alarm, and passengers inside the station began to rush out. The station was temporarily closed for safety reasons, and metro services resumed at 7:02 pm after the situation was brought under control.

A senior official of DMTCL said the diesel generator contained around 1,000 liters of diesel. Had the fire spread to the generator, it could have caused a major disaster, prompting the swift evacuation of passengers.

Fire on Stationary Bus in Mirpur

In a separate incident, miscreants set fire to a bus named Basumati in the Mirpur Section 11½ Post Office area at around 9:30 pm on Monday. Pallabi Police Station officials confirmed no casualties were reported and said efforts are underway to identify and arrest those responsible. Local residents attempted to extinguish the flames.

Cocktail Blasts and Arrests

Prior to the Farmgate bus fire, three cocktail explosions were reported at different locations in the capital on Monday evening. According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), at least 15 cocktail blasts occurred across the city over the past two days (from Saturday to Sunday night), and three vehicles were set on fire during this period. DMP reported at least 20 arrests in connection with these incidents over the last three days. Police and local residents have detained four suspects allegedly involved in throwing cocktails.

Arson Outside the Capital

Outside Dhaka, five buses were set on fire in Savar, Barguna, and Gazipur between late Sunday night and Monday evening. Additionally, cocktail explosions were reported at Dhaka University's Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) area, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court premises, and Jagannath University campus on Monday.