Faridpur:A 55-year-old bus driver, Mohammad Kalachan Sheikh, tragically lost his life after miscreants set fire to his bus while he was asleep inside at the Goalchamot Natun Bus Stand in Faridpur town early Tuesday.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the incident occurred around 145 am when the bus, parked for the night, was targeted by arsonists. Kalachan, who drove the 'Kishore Tanmoy' bus on the Faridpur-Tekarhat-Madaripur route, was trapped inside the vehicle as it burned. Emergency services responded swiftly, extinguishing the flames and retrieving Kalachan, who was then transported to Faridpur Medical College Hospital. However, he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Kalachan was a resident of Diknagar in Muksudpur upazila, Gopalganj, and the sole provider for his family, including his three children. His death has left his family in a state of uncertainty and despair.
Faridpur Superintendent of Police Shahriar Mohammad Miaji stated that the fire started while Kalachan was resting inside the bus, suspecting smoke inhalation as the cause of death. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
Local residents have voiced their suspicions, attributing the arson attack to the banned activities of the Awami League. Allegations have surfaced that party activists conducted similar attacks across the country on the same night, using crude bombs and petrol. They drew parallels to past incidents of violence attributed to the party.
The broader context includes a July-August 2024 uprising that resulted in 1,400 deaths, including 118 children, as reported by the United Nations. The report implicated law enforcement agencies in violent crackdowns under the orders of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Critics have accused the Awami League of perpetuating state-sponsored violence and suppressing dissent during its extended tenure in power.