Bangladesh: Train fire kills 4 amid death of opposition activists in custody

Bangladesh’s railway minister accused the country’s main opposition party of “arson” and “sabotage” after a fire broke out early Tuesday on a passenger train in the capital, killing four people including a mother and child.

Zia’s party — which is boycotting the election — issued a statement denying the accusation.

The party has been intermittently enforcing transportation blockades and general strikes demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who seeks to return to power for a fourth consecutive term.

Six members of Bangladesh’s largest opposition party have died in prison in two weeks, their relatives and leaders of the party said.

The six men were among tens of thousands of leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP, who were arrested in a crackdown on the opposition ahead of the next general elections, to be held on January 7.