MADARIPUR, April 12, 2026 (BSS) - One passenger was killed after a moving bus caught fire on the Dhaka-Barishal highway in Madaripur this afternoon.

The incident took place around 3:00 pm in the Malkain area of Dasar upazila.

Police said a Sakura Paribahan bus, travelling from Barishal to Dhaka, suddenly caught fire after reaching the area. 

The driver immediately stopped the vehicle on the roadside, allowing most passengers to get off safely.

However, one passenger fell during the evacuation and sustained serious injuries. 

The injured was taken to Kalkini Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead. 

His identity could not be confirmed immediately.

Eyewitness auto-rickshaw driver Kamrul Islam said smoke was first seen coming from the engine compartment before the fire rapidly engulfed the bus.

A unit of the Kalkini Fire Service brought the blaze under control after about 30 minutes of effort, but the bus was completely gutted.

Fire Service officials suspect the fire originated from a short circuit in the vehicle's battery.

Dasar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Tariqul Islam said around 25 passengers were on board. 

Most managed to escape immediately after the fire broke out, but one passenger was fatally injured during the evacuation.