A total of 137 arson attacks have been reported in two city corporations of Dhaka in 71 days since October 28, Fire Service and Civil Defence said in a report on Saturday.

Of them, 89 fire attacks were reported in Dhaka South City Corporation while 48 in Dhaka North City Corporation.

"A total of 303 arson attacks were reported across the country during this period, leaving eight people dead and five injured,” said Talha Bin Jashim, station officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence's media cell.

According to the fire service, out of 303 arson attacks across the country, 194 incidents occurred in Dhaka division, 35 in Chattogram, 38 in Rajshahi, 9 in Barishal, 10 in Rangpur, 5 in Khulna, 6 in Mymensingh and 6 in Sylhet division.

A total of 176 buses, 49 trucks, 25 covered vans, 5 trains, 3 microbuses, 3 private cars, 21 motorcycles, 1 ambulance, 10 pickup trucks, 3 CNG-run auto rickshaws, 1 human hauler, 3 Lagunas, 1 fire service water truck, 1 police van were torched during this period.

Of the 23 establishments,  nine educational institutions,  5 BNP offices, 1 Awami League office, 1 police box, 1 councilor office, 2 electricity offices, 1 bus counter, 2 showrooms, and 1 Buddhist monastery were burnt during this time, according to fire service.

According to the statistics, arson attacks happened in 47 days of the 71 days. And no fire attack was reported in 24 days.

Analysing the incidents, the fire service found that there were more arson attacks during the night compared to daytime.

A total of 2,959 members of 539 firefighting units worked to douse the fire across the country during this period.

On 28 October, both the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami called rallies in the capital which were marred by violence.

Many vehicles were torched and two people died, including a police constable.