A Hanif Paribahan bus caught fire with passengers on board in the Natun Bridge area of Bakalia in Chattogram on Thursday night. The fire broke out at around 10:30pm, UNB’s Chattogram correspondent reports.  Later, two units from Nandan Kanan fire station in the city rushed to the spot and doused the fire. According to witnesses, the bus was mostly burned before the Fire Service arrived. However, no one was injured in the incident. Md. Ali, a senior officer at the Nandan Kanan fire station, said: “The bus was picking up passengers for the journey to Cox's Bazar. Suddenly, the fire started from a short circuit.”  The control room could not say how much financial loss was caused to the bus in the fire.

At least 200 buses of Nagar Paribahan will be launched in three new routes from September 1, said Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Tuesday. The decision was taken at the 23rd committee meeting of Bus Route Rationalization Committee at Buriganga Hall in the Nagar Bhaban with its chairman Fazle Noor Taposh. The DSCC mayor came up with the information while talking to reporters at the Nagar Bhaban. The routes include—Ghatarchar-Washpur-Basila-Mohammadpur Town Hall, Asad Gate- Farmgate Karwan Bazar-Shahbagh-Kakrail-Fakirapool-Motijheel-Tikatuli-Sayedabad-Jatrabari-Konapara-Demra Staff Quarter. Ghatarchar-Washpur-Basila-Mohammadpur-Japan Garden City-Shyamoli- College Gate-Asad Gate-Kalabagan-Science Lab-Shahbagh-Matshya Bhaban-Press Club-gulistan-Dainik Bangla-Rajarbag-Kamalapur-Dhalpur-Jatrabari-Shanir Akhra-Rayerbagh-Matuile-Signboard-Chittagong Road. Ghatarchar-Washpur-Basila-Mohammadpur Town Hall-Asad Gate-Kalabagan,-Science Lab-New Market-Azimpur-Palashi-Chankharpool-Flyover-Postagola Kadamtoli. On December 26, last year, the government has finally launched the ‘Dhaka Nagar Paribahan’ under bus route rationalisation programme of the two Dhaka city corporations on trial basis, aiming to streamline the public transport sector and reduce traffic jams in Dhaka. READ: Nagar Paribahan bus service to be launched on 3 more routes: Mayor Taposh Replying to a question, DSCC Mayor, said a joint drive with coordination of DMP Traffic, BRTA and two city corporations will launch a drive from July 17 to July 28 to track illegal and unfit vehicles. According to the sources, 1646 buses were listed as unauthorized, he said. Besides, the infrastructural development work including construction of passenger shed, Bus Bay will be completed by July 30. Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam, who was present at the meeting, said no unregistered and illegal bus will be allowed on the no 21 route from Ghatarchar to Kachpur. Only Nagar Paribahan buses will be allowed to ply on the route.