School bus set on fire in Manikganj at midnight, sleeping driver burned

Bangla Press Desk:   Unknown assailants set fire to a school bus in Shibalay, Manikganj, on Friday midnight, seriously injuring the sleeping driver, police and local sources reported. The driver was rescued and sent to Dhaka for advanced treatment.

The incident occurred around 1:30am at the Folsatia bus stand along the Dhaka-Aricha highway. The bus, belonging to The Holy Child School and College in Manikganj town, was parked with driver Tabej Khan (45), son of Abul Hossain of Baraibikura village, asleep inside.

Police and eyewitnesses said the attackers suddenly ignited the bus, and the fire quickly spread. Shibalay police promptly arrived, rescued the driver, and rushed him to the 250-bed Manikganj General Hospital. Due to the severity of his burns, doctors referred him to the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka for specialised treatment.

A fire service team controlled the blaze at the scene.

Sub-Inspector Suman Chakraborty of Shibalay Police Station said, “We received reports of the bus fire at Folsatia along the Dhaka-Aricha highway. Our team rescued the driver, who was seriously burned, and sent him to hospital. Legal action is underway."

BP/SP