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.

Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif on Monday said BNP will join the next parliamentary election under the current government as the party did in 2018. “The next election will also be held under the present government in line with the constitution and BNP must take part in that poll,” he said. Hanif came up with the comment while talking to journalists during the inauguration of the newly constructed District Seed Certification Agency office building in Saddam Bazar area. He said the government will do whatever is necessary for holding the forthcoming election in a free, fair and neutral manner with the participation of all parties. The ruling party leader recalled that BNP joined the 2018 election under the Awami League government. He said Awami League is the only party in Bangladesh which believes in democracy and handing over power through an election. “Awami League has so far handed over power through elections. The Awami League does not resort to any trick over the election. The BNP has the habit of rigging votes and manipulating the elections.” READ:  BNP is opposing election commission law to embarrass the govt: Hanif Earlier on Sunday, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader assured that the 12th parliamentary polls will be held in a free and credible manner, and urged all registered political parties to join it. However, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday said Awami League’s assurance of a fair election is only a trap to deceive their party. Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, Rizvi also said what the ruling party leaders and the prime minister are saying about the fair election is nothing but a deception.

Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbul Ul Alam Hanif said on Monday that the BNP is opposing the proposed law to form an election commission to embarrass the government. He said this in response to the BNP's remarks that the government was hastily setting up an election commission to include in it party and loyal people  His remarks came after the ruling party paid homage at the memorial of Shaheed Matiur Rahman at the premises of Nabakumar Institute in Bakshibazar on the occasion of the historic Mass Uprising Day. Read: People looking for a change in govt: Fakhrul Mentioning that BNP never wants fair politics in this country, Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif further said that their aim is to create an unstable situation in the country on any issue. Mass Uprising Day was observed in memory of the valiant people of the soil who made supreme sacrifices in the mass movement in 1969 that culminated in the country’s War of Liberation in 1971. Different political parties, student organisations and socio-cultural organisations have taken different programmes to mark the 53rd anniversary of the day. Read: Current constitution “contrary” to democratic practice: GM Quader School student Motiur Rahman Mallik and teenaged Rustam were killed in police firing at the final stage of the mass movement that ousted the then Pakistani military ruler General Ayub Khan from power and paved the way for the independence of Bangladesh. Matiur was a student of Class nine of Nabakumar Institute in Dhaka.

Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif on Tuesday said that any evil intention to create anarchy centering the golden jubilee celebration will be resisted strictly. He was speaking to journalists at the Pabna Circuit House in the morning over recent mayhem of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh. BNP-Jamaat tried to trigger anarchy in 2013 by misleading Madrasa students but the government and people resisted them together, he said. Hanif accused the BNP-Jamaat alliance and Hefazat of using religion for personal gains. “Stop using orphan children for personal interest, otherwise the government will deal with you sternly,” he said. Hefazat enforced a daylong strike on Sunday that ended with reports of sporadic clashes across the country. On Friday, four people were killed and at least 15 others were injured in a clash between Hefazat supporters and police at Hathazari in Chattogram. Police opened fire after a group of protestors attacked the Hathazari thana compound, Hathazari land office and set fire to a vehicle. On the same day, at least 50 people, including several journalists, were injured in a clash between Muslim devotees and police in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area. Clashes erupted when police barred people from bringing out a procession after Jum’a prayers protesting against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh.