Passenger Bus Set on Fire in Dhaka’s Mohakhali

A passenger bus was set alight in Dhaka’s Mohakhali area on Saturday night, raising fresh concerns over public safety in one of the capital’s busiest transport corridors. The incident occurred at approximately 9:30pm, although police confirmed that no passengers were injured.

According to officers, the bus was travelling from the Amtoli intersection towards Titumir College when unidentified attackers targeted the vehicle near Khaja Tower. Witnesses reported seeing a small group approach the moving bus before igniting a section of it and fleeing the scene. The driver halted the vehicle immediately, enabling all passengers to disembark quickly.

Officers from Banani Police Station responded within minutes. The station’s officer-in-charge, Md Rasel Saroar, stated that the fire was brought under control without significant damage. “The blaze has been extinguished and the bus has been taken to the station premises for inspection. Thankfully, none of the passengers sustained injuries,” he said. He further noted that legal proceedings and an investigation into the attack are under way.

Residents and commuters in Mohakhali expressed anxiety following the incident, as it comes amid a period of heightened tension and sporadic acts of vandalism targeting public transport in the city. Security analysts caution that such attacks, even when they result in no casualties, can have a profound psychological impact on the public and disrupt essential urban mobility.

Police say they are now reviewing CCTV footage from nearby buildings and road junctions to identify those responsible. Preliminary assessments suggest the attack was premeditated rather than accidental. Authorities have pledged increased patrols along key transport routes to prevent further attempts at arson or sabotage.