Kafrul bus arson: 'On my big brother's orders' — arrested Hossain confesses to setting the fire

Md Hossain has confessed to police that he set fire to a bus in Kafrul in the capital on the instructions of his political "big brother". He also claimed that he himself is involved in Chhatra League politics. According to him, the man who ordered the arson, Juboraj, is a former general secretary of the Kafrul Thana Chhatra League.

Police obtained this information during initial questioning after Hossain was arrested over the bus arson in Kafrul in the capital early on Monday (10 November).

Hossain told police, "My political big brother Juboraj sent me to set fire to the bus. As he told me, I poured petrol into the vehicle and set it alight with a matchstick."

Hasan Mohammad Naser Rikabdar, deputy commissioner (DC) of the Mirpur Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), confirmed Hossain's arrest. He also said that Hossain had admitted to setting fire to the bus during initial questioning.

The DC said the statements given by the arrested Hossain are being verified. A video of his initial confession about setting fire to the bus has been recorded, he said.

Police said that at around 12:45 am on Monday, a bus of Alif Paribahan, registration Dhaka Metro-B-12-7474, was set on fire opposite Staff College in the Mirpur-13 area under Kafrul police station. Two men who arrived on a motorcycle set the bus alight. However, nearby shopkeepers quickly put out the fire.

Hossain was arrested while setting fire to the bus in this incident.

Four buses were set on fire in Dhaka and Gazipur, and cocktail explosions took place in various places, it has been reported. Incidents of bus arson and cocktail explosions have been occurring in the capital and surrounding areas over the past few days.

The DMP Mirpur Division DC also said that Nafiul, alias Somoy, the organising secretary of ward 12 of the banned Chhatra League, and Shuvo Chowdhury were caught red-handed during a cocktail explosion on Darus Salam Road on 10 November.

During questioning, Nafiul admitted that he had taken part in Chhatra League processions held on 6 November in front of the Golf Club under Cantonment police station and in Gabtoli.

Police are verifying the statements given by the arrested Hossain. The deputy commissioner of the DMP's Mirpur Division said a video of the initial confession has been recorded.