Kamrul Hasan : Panic has spread among teachers, students, and parents in Manikganj following arson attacks on school buses of two educational institutions.

Local political circles and concerned citizens claim that the incidents are deliberate acts of sabotage aimed at questioning the upcoming election and creating instability in the country.

The most talked-about incident involves the arson attack on a school bus belonging to Munnu International School and College, established by Afroza Khan Rita, the BNP candidate for the Manikganj-3 constituency and the district BNP convener. Many in the area believe the attack was politically motivated and even driven by jealousy over Rita’s popularity. Additionally, after the bus of The Holy Child School in Manikganj town was set on fire, teachers, students, and parents across the district have become increasingly concerned about safety.

Anisur Rahman, chairman of Ulail Union Parishad, said that CCTV cameras are installed at both locations, and the perpetrators can be identified by reviewing the footage.

Mohammad Ashraful Islam, principal of The Holy Child School and College, said,
“Our students are now in deep fear because our school bus was set on fire. Such secret arson attacks are being carried out to destabilize the country. Immediate arrest of the culprits is essential.”

Lt. Col. (Retd.) Zahirul Islam, principal of Munnu International School and College, said,
“The incident was undoubtedly intentional. The back-to-back arson attacks on two school buses have made us extremely worried about the safety of our students. We demand strict monitoring by the administration and exemplary punishment for the offenders.”

Candidate Afroza Khan Rita said,
“These acts of sabotage are aimed at creating unrest and fear surrounding the election. A vested group is committing this heinous crime to disrupt the electoral process. The culprits must be quickly identified and brought under the law.”

Last Sunday night, miscreants set fire to a parked school bus of Munnu International School and College near Sarmano CNG & Filling Station at the Uthli intersection in Shibalaya upazila. Police have arrested nine people, including a former female vice-chairman of Shibalaya and several Awami League members, in connection with the incident.

Three days later, around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, another arson attack took place on a bus of The Holy Child School and College at the Falsatia bus stand area on the Dhaka–Aricha highway in Shibalaya. The bus driver, Tabez Khan (42), who was asleep inside the vehicle, sustained severe burns.

Shibalaya Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Aman Ullah said that two separate cases have been filed regarding the incidents, and a total of ten people have been arrested. CCTV footage from the surrounding areas is being analyzed to identify and apprehend the arsonists.