Bangladesh minister accuses country’s main opposition party of arson after train fire kills 4

Bangladesh’s railway minister accused the country’s main opposition party of “arson” and “sabotage” after a fire broke out on a passenger train in the capital killing four people, including a mother and child

DHAKA, Bangladesh -- Bangladesh’s railway minister accused the country’s main opposition party of “arson” and “sabotage” after a fire broke out early Tuesday on a passenger train in the capital killing four people, including a mother and child.

“Now, they have targeted a safe means of transport like a train,” said Nurul Islam Sujon, accusing the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, of resorting to violence and sabotage in the name of anti-government protests to thwart the national election slated for Jan.7 and "create chaos."

Zia's party — which is boycotting the election — issued a statement denying the accusation.

The party has been intermittently enforcing transportation blockades and general strikes demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who seeks to return to power for a fourth consecutive term.

On Tuesday, Shahjahan Sikder, deputy assistant director of the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense, said that they recovered four bodies after three coaches of the Mohanganj Express train caught fire. The train left the northern district of Netrokona late Monday for the Kamlapur Railway Station in Dhaka, the capital, packed with passengers.