The anti-crime elite force Rapid Action Battalion claimed that the bus of Basumati Transport in city’s Kalshi area was torched on 18 November for Tk7,000 only.
RAB's Legal and Media Wing Director Commander Khandaker Al Moin made this allegation while addressing a press briefing on Tuesday at the RAB Media Center in Karwan Bazar area of the capital Dhaka.
He further said, “The video and photo of the burning bus were sent to local leaders of "a political party.”
We have already arrested four miscreants and they were identified as Ali Mohammad Chan, 27; Md Sagor, 25; Md Al Amin Rubel, 29; and Md Khorshed Alam, 34 on Monday night in connection with this incident, he continued
The RAB officials also alleged that Chan, one of the arrested individuals, planned to set fire to buses in Mirpur and the surrounding areas of Pallabi under the direction of top leaders of their party.
He further said that Chan recorded and sent pictures and videos of the burning bus to the top local leaders of the political party.
"Each individual involved in the arson attack was supposed to receive Tk10,000. But Sagar and Al Amin were given only Tk7,000 each, as admitted by Chan," Khandaker Al Moin said.
The RAB made the arrests after analysing videos broadcasted in various media and from CCTV footage.
All of them already have several existing cases against them.
The Basumati Paribahan bus was set on fire around 11:30pm in Kalshi area in the city on 18 November.