A late-night journey turned into a harrowing ordeal for dozens of travellers when a moving air-conditioned coach caught fire on the highway in Cox’s Bazar. The incident, involving an Icon Paribahan bus travelling from Cox’s Bazar to Dhaka, unfolded late on Friday night around 1:00 am, sparking widespread panic among the occupants on board.
The vehicle was passing the western side of Kolghar Bazar near the N Alam filling station in Ramu when flames suddenly erupted. There were approximately 25 to 30 passengers inside the bus at the time of the emergency. As thick smoke and flickering flames began to fill the cabin, visibility plummeted and breathing became increasingly difficult.
Dramatic Rescue by Locals
Disaster was averted thanks to the swift intervention of nearby residents. Witnessing the unfolding crisis, locals rushed to the scene without hesitation. Working urgently against time, they smashed the windows of the coach and pulled the trapped passengers to safety one by one.
Mohammed Rana, a passenger who had been returning from a holiday with seven members of his family, described the terrifying moments inside the smoke-filled vehicle. He noted that the cabin quickly filled with toxic fumes, causing severe breathing difficulties, and added that neither the driver nor the conductor was anywhere to be seen inside the bus when the fire broke out.
Emergency Response and Investigation
Authorities responded rapidly to the distress calls. A team from the Ramu Highway Police Station arrived at the location within ten minutes of receiving the alert, owing to their close proximity. Sergeant Parভেজ of the highway police confirmed that officers immediately assisted with rescue operations once they reached the spot.
Simultaneously, a unit from the Ramu Fire Service and Civil Defence rushed to tackle the blaze. Station Officer Md Abdul Quader Chowdhury stated that preliminary findings suggest a mechanical fault or an overheated engine likely triggered the flames. Officials have launched a formal investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. Remarkably, despite the severity of the incident and the rapid spread of fire, no casualties or serious injuries have been reported.

