The miscreants set fire to a bus at Singra in Natore. The incident took place on Natore-Bogra highway at Chowgram bus stand of the upazila around 1pm on Saturday. Leaders and activists of the owners 'and workers' organizations staged a protest by blocking the Natore-Bogra highway around 9am on Sunday.
According to the affected bus owners and workers, the driver and helper left a bus of 'Singra Elite' transport at Chougram bus stand around 9 pm on Saturday and went home to eat. Suddenly, a team of patrol police of Singra police station saw the smoke of fire in the bus at around 1 am. When the matter was reported by calling 999, a team of Singra Fire Service reached the spot and extinguished the fire, but the entire interior including the engine of the bus was burnt. Leaders and activists of Singra's owner-workers' organization blocked the highway in Chowgram area on Sunday morning.
Hasan Imam, general secretary of the Natore Motor Owners Association, said only one owner was not injured in the blaze. Several people including driver, supervisor, helper have lost their jobs. He lamented that the bus caught fire next to the fire service station but the firefighters neglected to protect the bus. He demanded speedy trial of those involved in the incident.
The owner of the damaged bus, Anwar Hossain Babu, said that the bus caught fire and he lost more than one million rupees. He is sitting on the road. He also said that he is preparing to make a general diary at the police station.
Matiur Rahman, in-charge of Singra Fire Service, said the incident took place near his station but he came to know about it after the fire spread to the bus. Because 999 has been called without calling his station directly. From there to Natore Fire Station, later to Singra Station. It has been a waste of some time. As a result, the fire spread to the whole car.
Singra Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Noor Alam Siddiqui said no one had lodged a complaint with the police station till Sunday afternoon. If a complaint is received, action will be taken subject to investigation.
