Five killed as train ploughs through Bangladesh crowd

DHAKA - An angry mob Monday set a train on fire after it crushed at least five people gathering for an opposition rally in northern Bangladesh, officials said.

Witnesses said the Dhaka-bound train ploughed through a crowd of supporters of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on their way to join a rally in Sayedabad, Sirajganj district.

At least five people were killed and dozens injured, officials said.

Opposition supporters clashed with police and beat up the train driver and a guard and set the train on fire gutting all nine coaches and the engine.

District chief administrator Aminul Islam confirmed five deaths saying that he had sought aid from the army to bring the situation under control.