Amtali (Barguna) Correspondent:

Due to the lockdown of the banned Awami League, a bus parked on the road in Amtali was set on fire by miscreants late on Thursday night. The bus was completely burnt to ashes, causing a loss of about 20 lakh taka. A case is being prepared in this incident. The bus was parked in front of the house of the late Rustum Ali Gazi in ward number 5 of the municipality.

According to Amtali Police Station sources, on Thursday night, after receiving information about a bus named Swarna Paribahan (No. (Patuakhali B-11-0046) being set on fire in front of the house of the late Rustum Ali Gazi, we reached there and immediately brought the fire under control with the help of the fire service. The bus was completely burnt to ashes.

Amtali Upazila Bus Owners Association President Md. Nizam Pyada said, for the past few years, we have been parking the buses on the road in front of Gazi House and no accident has ever occurred. General Secretary of the same association Ohiduzzaman Sajal said, after the local buses plying on the Barisal-Kuakata route have been parked on the road in front of the house of the late Rustum Ali Gazi in ward number 5 of the municipality at night. Cleaning and necessary repairs are also done there. The next day, everyone goes on their own trips. The incident of the bus burning on Thursday night is very Tragic. He demanded justice for those involved in the incident.

Bus helper Md. Rabbi said, I was sleeping in the bus. Hearing the sound of fire, I went down to save some life and saw the bus burning in all directions. Thara and the fire service were informed, and they came and put out the fire. There is no other way to repair the way the bus was burned.

Bus owner Md. Shahidul Islam said, after traveling on the Barisal-Kuakata route all day, in the evening the bus was parked on the road in front of Rustum Ali Gazi house in ward number 5 of Amtoli Municipality. At approximately 12:15 am, after receiving information from the helper, I reached the spot and saw that the inside of my bus, the seats, all the machine parts, doors and windows were burnt to ashes in the fire.

Now only the iron frame like a skeleton is standing. He said in a tearful voice, "I have exhausted all my belongings. I bought the bus. My family runs on the income from the bus. I educate my children. Since the bus has been completely destroyed, I have become a pauper. I do not even have the money to repair it. Now I do not know what to do.

Immediately after the fire, Amtoli Police Station conducted raids in various places and arrested five leaders and activists of the banned Jubo League and Chhatra League. The arrested are Upazila Chhatra League leader Md. Ataur Rahman (29), Upazila Chhatra League joint convener Md. Parvez Khan (28), Municipal Jubo League leader Md. Tasmoy Gazi (33), former Municipal Chhatra League leader Md. Kawsar Ahmed Roni (33), former Chhatra League leader Md. Chhagir Mallick (23).

Amtoli Police Station Officer-in-Charge Dewan Jaglul Hasan said that five Chhatra League leaders and activists have been arrested in this incident. The case is under process.