Five killed in massive train fire in Bangladesh ahead of polls

Police suspect the train was set ablaze by arsonists amid continued unrest ahead of national elections boycotted by the opposition, news agency AFP reported.

According to media reports, the Benapole Express train, which caught fire, was packed with passengers.

Private broadcaster Somoy TV said some Indian citizens were also traveling on the train, according to the report.

"We have recovered five bodies," police commander Khandaker Al Moin was quoted as saying by AFP.

The report cited witnesses, who said that the fire started in the train at Gopibagh, in an old part of Dhaka close to the capital city’s main rail terminal.

A rescuer told private broadcaster Somoy TV that hundreds of people rushed to rescue passengers out of the burning train.

While many people were pulled out, the task grew difficult as the fire spread quickly, he said.

"We suspect the fire incident was an act of sabotage," police chief Anwar Hossain told AFP, without giving more details.

The previous month, the police and government accused the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of being involved in another train fire, resulting in four fatalities.

BNP rejected the allegation, stating that it was blamed unfairly as part of the government’s plan to muzzle the opposition voices.

Bangladesh will elect a new government in national elections scheduled on Sunday but the BNP and dozens of other parties have boycotted, describing the election process as a "sham" vote.

Bangladesh has been witnessing relentless anti-government protests, with thousands of opposition activists demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a protest campaign last year, leading to their arrest.