Police have arrested four people in Satkania, Chattogram, on charges of setting a bus on fire, vandalising a police vehicle, assaulting officers and attempting to snatch weapons following a road accident that killed a man and his two-year-old daughter.
The arrests were made during raids on Friday night in the Mirnagar and Rosulabad areas of Kaliaish union, following violent protests that blocked the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar highway for nearly two hours.
The arrestees were identified as Md Hasibul Islam, 22, Mohammad Hossain, 30, Liyakat Sikder, 24, and Md Azahar Sikder, 19, all residents of wards 3 and 7 in Rosulabad and Mirnagar.
Satkania Police Station Sub-Inspector Md Jahed filed a case on Saturday over the bus arson, vandalism of a police vehicle, assault on officers and obstruction of official duties.
The four suspects were produced before a court on Saturday afternoon.
Satkania Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Abdul Alim said the family of the deceased father and daughter was preparing to file a separate case under the Road Transport Act. Highway Police had not yet lodged any complaint.
The violence followed a head-on collision between a minibus and a compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered auto-rickshaw around 7:30 pm on Friday near Pathanipul DBM Brick Kiln, north of Noyakhal in Kaliaish union.
The crash killed auto-rickshaw passenger Delowar Hossain, 32, and his two-year-old daughter Wasifa, while four other family members were critically injured.
As news of the deaths spread, an angry crowd set the minibus ablaze and blocked the highway, bringing traffic to a standstill for nearly two hours.
The blockade caused a 10-kilometre tailback on both sides of the highway, leaving thousands of commuters stranded.
Police said Highway Police personnel responding to the accident were obstructed while attempting to reach the victims.
When a patrol team led by Sub-Inspector Md Jahed arrived, the crowd attacked and vandalised their vehicle and allegedly attempted to snatch police weapons.
Fire Service personnel were also prevented from reaching the burning bus, while a police officer was injured during the violence.
Additional police personnel led by Satkania Circle Additional Superintendent of Police Md Ariful Islam Siddique later reached the scene, brought the situation under control and restored traffic movement.
Officer-in-Charge Abdul Alim confirmed the four arrests in connection with the attacks on police, vandalism and arson.
He said police were also working to identify and take legal action against others involved in the violence.
