7 killed,16 injured in arson attack on Bangladeshi bus

At least seven people have been killed and 16 others injured as anti-government protesters threw a firebomb at a bus full of sleeping passengers in eastern Bangladesh, amid political unrest aimed at toppling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The predawn attack occurred on Tuesday when the bus was traveling from the coastal city of Cox's Bazar to the capital, Dhaka, said local police chief Uttam Chakrabarty.

"Seven passengers were burnt to death in the bus after the petrol bomb was thrown at 4 a.m. (2000 GMT Monday)," Chakrabarty noted, adding, "Five of the passengers are fighting for their life as 40-80 percent of their bodies were burnt. They have been shifted to a hospital in the capital."

Police officials blamed the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia for the raid.

Bangladeshi authorities have recently put more pressure on 69-year-old Zia, who has been confined in her office at the opposition headquarters in Dhaka since January 3.

On January 6, Zia called for a nationwide transport blockade as part of efforts to overthrow the government of Hasina and pave the way for new elections.

Since the start of the blockade, a large number of cars and buses have been set ablaze or damaged and several trains have been derailed. 

On Monday, government officials ordered a probe into claims of murder against Zia over the violent protests, while one of her closest aides, a media magnate, was taken into custody.

Hasina, who was re-elected in the January 5, 2014 polls, has warned Zia of “dire consequences” if the raids carry on. The election had been boycotted by the opposition in the country.

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