3 hurt in bomb attack on bus

At least three passengers suffered burns when alleged blockaders hurled a patrol bomb on a long-haul bus on the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Savar early yesterday.

The attack was carried out on the very night of the resumption of night coach services across the country after over a month due to the indefinite blockade enforced by the BNP-led alliance.

In Chapainawabganj, at least three policemen and a Shibir activist were injured in a clash between law enforcers and Shibir men in the town's Shibtala yesterday morning.

Injured bus passengers are Sumon Sheikh, 25, Abdur Rahim 50, and Akkas Ali, 70, were undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar.

Md Abdul Motaleb Mia, officer in-charge of Savar Model Police Station, said criminals hurled a firebomb at the bus of Rajanigandha Paribahan heading for Dhaka from Rajshahi in Genda of Savar around 2:00am.

Firefighters later put out the blaze.

Sumon, who had 13 percent of his body burned, said he got on the bus from Sreepur of Ashulia. When the bus reached Genda area, a patrol bomb shattered a window of the bus and the vehicle was in flames instantly.

“I along with other passengers jumped from the bus through its windows and door,” he told The Daily Star.

A cloth trader at Gausia in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj, Sumon is the only son of his parents. He fears that his father might have a heart attack hearing about his injuries.

On February 9, the authorities concerned had decided not to operate buses on highways after 9:00pm as arson attacks on vehicles continued unabated across the country since January 6 when the BNP-led alliance enforced the blockade.

COPS-SHIBIR CLASH

Police in Chapainawabganj said a team of cops went to Shibtala in the town around 10:45am on information that around 10 Islami Chhatra Shibir men gathered there for carrying out subversive activities.

Sensing the presence of police, Shibir activists hurled two crude bombs at the law enforcers, leaving Sub-inspector Monirul Islam and constables Rasheduzzaman and Mohammad Babul injured, claimed Golam Mortuza, OC of Chapainawabganj Sadar Police Station.

Police retaliated with four rubber bullets. Shibir activist Jibon Ali received a rubber bullet in his right leg and was undergoing treatment at Chapainawabganj Sadar Hospital under police custody.

Law enforcers in the morning picked up two more Shibir men from the town.

Meanwhile, police in Naogaon recovered 12 abandoned petrol bombs from a cattle shed in Jat Amrul village of Atrai upazila around 5:00am yesterday.

Our correspondents in Chapainawabganj and Savar contributed to this report.