During the Awami League’s online-declared ‘lockdown’ programme, miscreants set fire to a passenger bus in Feni on Thursday night around 10 p.m. The incident took place in front of Shahin Academy Road at Mohipal in Feni town. The bus was quickly engulfed in flames, creating panic in the area.
Fire service units rushed to the scene and brought the blaze under control after nearly half an hour of effort. Following the incident, traffic movement on the busy Dhaka–Chattogram highway came to a standstill for about two hours, resulting in long tailbacks on both sides of the road.
Eyewitnesses reported that several masked men approached the parked bus and suddenly set it on fire before fleeing the scene. Upon receiving the information, members of the fire service and law enforcement agencies immediately arrived and started rescue and control operations.
The officer-in-charge (investigation) of Feni Model Police Station said that the perpetrators behind the incident have not yet been identified. Additional police have been deployed in the area, and the situation is now under control.
The arson attack has sparked panic among residents, while police and security forces have intensified overnight patrols. CCTV footage from the surrounding area is being reviewed to identify those responsible.
Note: As part of the Awami League’s declared ‘lockdown’ programme, law enforcement agencies had been patrolling various parts of Feni since evening. However, this sudden act of arson has created tension across the city.