At least 55 dead in Bangladesh bus fire

DHAKA, Jan 6 (Reuters) At least 55 people were killed today when a bus packed with some 100 passengers crashed and caught fire southeast of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.

The bus was travelling from Dhaka to the port city of Chittagong carrying passengers leaving the capital ahead of a transport blockade called by political parties due to begin on Sunday, witnesses said.

Police said at least 55 people died in the accident. Local officials and witnesses put the death toll at around 70.

They said grieving relatives sifted through piles of charred bodies looking for loved ones. But most of the bodies were burned beyond recognition.

The crash occurred near the town of Comilla, 100 km from Dhaka, as the bus avoided a taxi coming in opposite direction, witnesses said.

The gas cylinder on the bus, run off natural gas, exploded and triggered the fire, they said.

Survivors told reporters the bus was carrying passengers both inside and on the roof.

A three-day countrywide blockade beginning tomorrow has been called by political parties boycotting parliamentary elections due on January 22.

The protest is against the alleged ''partisan role'' of the country's caretaker government charged with holding the elections.

REUTERS PB BS2347