A passenger bus was set on fire and shots were fired in Ashulia, Savar, early Wednesday morning (November 12) around 4:45 am.

According to police, unidentified miscreants torched an Alif Paribahan bus parked near the Women and Children Hospital in the Sarkar Market area of Ashulia before fleeing the scene.

A team from the DEPZ Fire Service arrived and brought the blaze under control, but by then nearly 80 percent of the bus had already been burned. The vehicle had been parked by the roadside at the time of the attack.

Witnesses and police sources said the driver, who was sleeping inside the bus, woke up as the fire started and sustained injuries while escaping through a window.

Senior Station Officer Pranab Chowdhury of DEPZ Fire Service confirmed the incident around 9 am, saying that two men on a motorcycle set the bus on fire and fired several blank shots before escaping. Locals later informed the fire service, who managed to extinguish the flames, though the interior of the bus was completely destroyed.

Bus driver Sattar said, “I was sleeping inside the bus when I suddenly noticed flames. I jumped out through the window and saw four people on two motorcycles wearing helmets. When I started shouting, they fired blanks and fled the area. I was injured while escaping.”

The bus owner, Mohammad Sohel, said, “This bus was my only source of income. I want justice for this attack and request the honorable chief adviser to ensure I receive compensation for my losses.”

Fire officer Pranab added that it took only 15 minutes to bring the fire under control after their team arrived. No casualties were reported apart from the injured driver.

Repeated phone calls to Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Hannan went unanswered.