Bangladesh train blaze kills four as opposition calls strike

On Tuesday, protestors in Bangladesh set fire to a train, killing at least four people as part of a nationwide strike called by the opposition to press its demand for the resignation of the government ahead of an election next month.

It was the latest clash sparked by anti-government protests, which have resulted in the burning of dozens of buses and automobiles and the murder of at least six people since Oct. 28, when an opposition march became violent.

“Strike supporters set fire to three compartments of an express train,” said fire service official Shahjahan Shikder. “Four bodies have been retrieved from a compartment.”

It was unclear how many people were aboard the train, which was travelling from the northern region of Netrokona to Dhaka, when passengers noticed the flames a short distance away, according to authorities.

The administration made no quick comment.

The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) wants Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to stand down and make way for a neutral government to monitor the Jan. 7 elections, which it has boycotted.

Hasina, who is seeking her fourth straight term out of a total of five, has consistently rejected the opposition’s demands for her resignation, blaming the BNP for the recent fatal street rallies in favour of their demand.

Of the 300 constituencies up for grabs in the election, Hasina’s Awami League party has shared 26 with its ally the Jatiya Party, thus allowing the latter to field candidates in a total of 283 seats.

Rights groups have accused the government of targeting opposition leaders and supporters. The government denies the accusations but faces pressure from Western nations to hold free, fair and participatory elections.

In line with usual practice, Bangladesh’s election panel has decided to deploy the army from Dec. 29 to deter any violence.