Four more arson victims die

Four arson victims succumbed to their burn injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) Sunday on the 76th day of the nationwide non-stop blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.

Three of the deceased sustained burn injuries in Saturday night's petrol bomb attack on a truck in Magura, which left nine injured, physicians concerned said.

When contacted, Resident Surgeon of the DMCH Burn Unit Partha Shankar Pal said Roushan Ali (35) died first at around 2:30am minutes after being taken to the hospital by an ambulance.

Two other Magura arson victims died later. Shakil Ahmed (30) breathed his last with 65 per cent burn injuries at around 12:00pm while critically injured Matin Biswas met the same fate at around 4:50pm, he said.

Seven of the nine Magura arson victims were now undergoing treatment in a critical condition at the burn unit of the hospital.

Pro-blockade activists allegedly hurled a petrol bomb at the truck on the Magura-Jessore Highway on Saturday night last, hours after the BNP-led 20-party alliance announced a fresh spell of 72-hour countrywide hartal.

The vehicle came under the attack when it reached Maghir Dhal area on its way to Magura after unloading sand at Gopalpur of the district.

The other arson victim who also died on Sunday was truck driver Sharif Khandkar (40), who received 88 per cent burn injuries in a firebomb attack on his vehicle in Chandpur on March 19. He died around 3:20pm at the country's largest public hospital.

More than 90 people have so far been killed and over a thousand injured during the ongoing transport blockade that started on January 6 after the 20-party alliance was denied permission to hold a rally in the capital.

Health Minister Mohammed Nasim after a visit to the DMCH Burn Unit on the day said the law enforcement agencies had detected the masterminds behind the arson attack in Magura.

Without giving any further details, he said those who assisted financially and participated actively would be brought to justice soon.

The minister also called upon the BNP high-ups to withdraw the ongoing blockade and hartal for the sake of public safety.

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