Nine burned alive in bus fire

2004-06-04 21:44

Dhaka - Nine people were killed, including a child, and 20 others injured on Friday in a suspected arson attack on a bus in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, police said.

"Nine people were burned alive in the fire and 20 others were injured," said a police officer.

He said some of the injured were in serious condition.

The bus was crossing a road near Dhaka's Sheraton Hotel when it was suddenly engulfed by fire, police said.

Police were investigating the cause of the blaze, but said they suspected it was an arson attack and blamed supporters of an anti-government strike called for Saturday.

Two suspects have been arrested, they said.

The attack comes on the eve of a 24-hour anti-government general strike called by the main opposition Awami League party to protest against the killing of one of its lawmakers last month by unidentified assailants.

The opposition has been campaigning to force Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Islamist-allied government to step down, accusing it of failing to tackle crime and corruption. It has staged several strikes since February.

The government said it was trying to improve the situation inherited from the previous Awami League government.

Awami League officials could not be reached for comment.

- AFP