A parked air-conditioned passenger bus was severely damaged after a sudden fire broke out near the bustling Mohakhali Bus Terminal in Dhaka on Thursday afternoon. Prompt action by local fire services prevented the blaze from spreading to adjacent vehicles and infrastructure in one of the capital’s busiest transport hubs.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:46 pm when the vehicle, belonging to the private transport operator Prime Paribahan, caught fire shortly after completing its journey from Sherpur. According to officials, the bus had already deposited its passengers and was parked adjacent to the main terminal precinct when flames began emerging from the air-conditioning unit.

Upon receiving the emergency alert, two firefighting units from the Fire Service and Civil Defence were swiftly dispatched to the scene. Firefighters managed to bring the inferno under control within 14 minutes, fully extinguishing the flames by 2:00 pm.

Anwarul Islam Dolon, an official at the Fire Service and Civil Defence control room, confirmed that no casualties or injuries were reported, as the driver, helper, and passengers had vacated the vehicle prior to the outbreak. Preliminary investigations suggest that an electrical malfunction within the bus’s air-conditioning system was the primary cause of the ignition.

While the exact extent of the financial loss remains under assessment, the vehicle suffered extensive structural and interior damage. Transport authorities noted that electrical short circuits in ageing or improperly maintained cooling systems remain a recurrent hazard for long-distance luxury coaches operating across the national highway network.

Mohakhali Bus Terminal serves as a critical transit hub connecting Dhaka with northern and central districts, including Mymensingh, Jamalpur, and Sherpur. Thousands of inter-district buses navigate the area daily, frequently operating alongside heavy traffic and dense roadside parking. Authorities highlighted that the rapid response of the emergency services was crucial in averting a far greater disaster within the congested terminal surroundings.