A quiet Wednesday night in Rampura turned tense when a parked commuter bus suddenly caught fire opposite the Bangladesh Television (BTV) headquarters. The blaze, which occurred around 10pm, has raised suspicions of deliberate arson and prompted both the Fire Service and police to launch an investigation.
The bus, belonging to Victor Classic Paribahan, was stationed under the flyover loop directly across from the state broadcaster’s building. Fire Service duty officer Rakibul Hasan said the emergency hotline received a call at around 10pm alerting them to the incident. Upon arrival, firefighters found flames rapidly engulfing parts of the empty vehicle.
Two firefighting units were deployed and succeeded in extinguishing the flames before they could spread further. The response was swift, but not fast enough to prevent the interior of the bus—particularly its seating area and rear section—from sustaining extensive damage. Despite the intensity of the blaze, no injuries were reported.
Eyewitnesses described seeing a flash of fire moments after a few unfamiliar individuals were spotted near the bus. Some residents claimed that these individuals walked away hurriedly just before the flames erupted, fuelling speculation that the fire was intentionally set. Police, however, have refrained from drawing conclusions until further evidence is examined.
The location of the incident has added to public unease. Being directly opposite a major national broadcasting centre, the fire has reignited concerns about the vulnerability of essential state facilities and transport infrastructure. In recent weeks, several isolated cases of vehicles being torched have been reported in Dhaka, prompting discussions about a broader pattern of sabotage.
Police have cordoned off the area and begun collecting eyewitness accounts and CCTV footage from nearby establishments. Fire investigators are also analysing the remains of the bus to determine the ignition source.
Authorities say a detailed report will follow once forensic teams complete their examination. Meanwhile, the incident has reinforced calls for increased surveillance and night-time security in key parts of the capital.