Unidentified miscreants poured petrol on the tyres of a stationary goods-laden lorry and set it ablaze on the Dhaka–Narayanganj link road late on Tuesday night. The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 pm in the Jalkuri Koraitala area, creating a brief wave of panic among local commuters and residents along the busy transit route.
According to police sources, the vehicle had been parked by the roadside when the perpetrators targeted its tyres, pouring flammable liquid over them before igniting the fire and fleeing the scene immediately. Prompt action by the driver and his assistant prevented a major disaster. Using the fire extinguisher installed inside the lorry, the crew managed to douse the flames before they could spread to the main cargo compartment or the rest of the vehicle.
Tareq Al Mehdi, the Additional Superintendent of Police for Narayanganj District, confirmed the detail of the incident, stating that whilst a portion of the lorry’s tyres was burnt, no casualties or significant structural damage were reported. Senior officers have already visited the spot to gather evidence. Law enforcement authorities are currently reviewing footage from nearby closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to trace the movement of the culprits and establish their identities. Security measures along key entry and exit routes connecting the capital city with Narayanganj have also been heightened to avert any further attempts at sabotage.
This act of arson coincided with a series of overnight drives conducted by law enforcement agencies across several strategic locations in Narayanganj. During these targeted raids, police detained nine individuals associated with the banned political organisation, the Awami League, alongside its affiliate bodies. Police officials indicated that security sweeps across the district remain ongoing as part of a wider effort to maintain law and order, curb anti-social activities, and protect public transport infrastructure from targeted vandalism.
