Seven vehicles torched in city

Firefighters douze the blaze of a double-decker bus of Dhaka University on the campus in the capital on Monday. Photo: Rashed Shumon

Criminals set seven vehicles on fire at different locations in the capital on the eve of Tuesday's nationwide dawn-to-dusk hartal.

The BNP-led 18-party alliance and Jamaat-e-Islami's student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, separately called for the shutdown to press home demands including release of their leaders.

The arson took place in Dhaka University, Tejgaon, Rampura, Karwan Bazar and Sayedabad areas. No one was reported injured from the incidents.

A double-decker bus used to carry DU students to and from Mohammadpur and Dhanmondi was torched around 12:15pm on the campus.

A group of three to four young men set fire to the vehicle parked in front of Shahidullah Hall, eye witnesses said.

The witnesses saw the youths sitting inside the vehicle.

They fled the spot immediately after the incident.

Later firefighters rushed to the spot and doused the blaze.

Most portions of the bus have been burned, said Sirajul Islam, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station.

He said police could not detain anyone in connection with the fire.

In Tejgaon, criminals set a bus ablaze at Begunbari intersection around 4:30pm while a covered van at Nabisco intersection around 6:30pm, said fire service officials.

In Karwan Bazar, the officials said, a staff bus of Titas Gas was torched in front of BGMEA building around 3:40pm while a taxicab on the Farmgate-Shahbagh road around 7:30pm.

In Rampura, a vehicle was set on fire near BTV building around 7:10pm.

In Jatrabari, criminals torched a vehicle at Sayedabad bus terminal around 7:45pm, the firemen said.