Bus on fire outside LabAid Hospital in Dhanmondi

A bus belonging to Shanto-Mariam University caught fire outside LabAid Hospital in the capital’s Dhanmondi area on Monday evening, sparking panic among locals, pedestrians, and nearby hospital visitors.

According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, the incident occurred at around 7:30 pm. Two firefighting units from the Mohammadpur Fire Station rushed to the scene upon receiving the alert and began efforts to bring the blaze under control.

Khaleda Yasmin, duty officer at the fire service control room, confirmed the incident. “Two units from Mohammadpur Fire Station reached the spot immediately after receiving information about the fire in the bus. They are currently working to extinguish the flames,” she said.

The cause of the fire could not be determined immediately, and officials have yet to confirm whether there were any passengers on board or if the bus had been parked at the time. Witnesses reported that a group of seven to eight young men were walking past the bus moments before it suddenly caught fire. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of sabotage or an accident, and an investigation is expected.

Earlier the same day, the fire service received reports of two other bus fires in Merul Badda and Shahjadpur, both involving vehicles of Victor Paribahan. The recurrence of such incidents within a short span of time has raised concerns about bus safety and possible arson in the capital.

No casualties were reported in the Dhanmondi fire as of the time of filing this report. Firefighters managed to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading to nearby structures, while traffic in the area remained suspended during the operation.