• 5 killed, many others injured as train 'set afire' in Bangladesh 2 days before elections

    International
    5 killed, many others injured as train 'set afire' in Bangladesh 2 days before elections
    The incident occurred in the Gopibag neighborhood of the capital city of Dhaka on the Benapole Express. 

    Digital Desk: A passenger train in Bangladesh is said to have been set on fire by arsonists on Friday night, leaving at least five people dead and several others injured.

    The incident occurred in the Gopibag neighborhood of the capital city of Dhaka on the Benapole Express. It coincides with the country's upcoming general elections, which are marred by turmoil as a result of the opposition's boycott, by just two days.

    A Daily Star report states that the fire started in the Gopibag neighborhood at about 9:00 pm. By 10.20 p.m., the fire was contained.

    Many of the passengers aboard the train were Indian nationals, according to bdnews24.com.

    Five compartments were set on fire, and the authorities believe this to be an arson case. Within the train headed for Dhaka, the fire spread to at least four compartments.

    To find out how many people were hurt and how much damage was done, the police launched a search operation. There might be a lot more persons stuck inside the compartments, according to police suspicion.

    Benapole, Bangladesh's most significant land port, is connected to Dhaka by train.

    Prior to the significant parliamentary elections that are set for this Sunday, violence has plagued Bangladesh's pre-poll phase.

    In addition to calling for a complete boycott of the election process, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation and the establishment of a caretaker administration in exchange for "free and fair polls" are the main opposition parties, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its supporters.