At least two buses were set on fire at Shewrapara and Darus Salam in the capital on the eve of today's half-day hartal enforced in the city by the National Committee to Protect, Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power, and Ports and the Islami Andolon Bangladesh.
Police and witnesses said a group of unidentified people set fire to a bus of Samoi Niontron Service on Rokeya Sarani at around 4:30pm.
Sub-inspector Shafiqul Islam of the Kafrul police said the arsonists in the guise of passengers set fire to the bus and fled the scene.
He said pro-hartal supporters might have made the arson attack on the eve of today's half-day general strike.
No one was hurt in the fire as all the passengers could get out of the bus in time.
In the other incident, another group of unidentified people set fire to a bus of Dul Dul Paribahan in front of Khaleque Petrol Pump at Darus Salam at around 6:30pm.
On information, fire fighters rushed to the spot and doused the fire.
Darus Salam police officer-in-charge Abdul Malek said unidentified goons set fire to the standing vehicle to create panic.
The national committee has called a general strike in the capital for six hours today to press its seven-point demand, including cancellation of the deal signed by Petrobangla with the US oil company ConocoPhillips on June 16 for exploration and extraction of gas at offshore gas blocks 10 and 11.
The national committee leaders from a press conference in the capital on June 18 called the general strike from 6:00am to noon, terming the production-sharing contract signed with ConocoPhillips lopsided and against the national interests.
On the other hand, the Islami Andolon Bangladesh on June 30 called the strike, protesting at dropping the phrase - 'the faith in Almighty Allah' - from the preamble of the constitution.
Source : New Age
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