Different political and sociocultural organisations yesterday strongly condemned Friday's arson attack on a double-decker bus that left nine passengers killed.

Fifteen others were also injured when unknown assailants carried out the arson attack on a state-owned BRTC bus in front of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel on Friday night.

The Workers Party of Bangladesh (WPB) demanded immediate arrest of and exemplary punishment to the attackers through proper investigation.

The government would have to bear the responsibility if the attackers go unpunished, said WPB President Rashed Khan Menon and General Secretary Bimal Biswas in a statement.

Saifuddin Ahmed Manik, gen-

eral secretary of the Gono Forum, demanded judicial inquiry into the incident.

"The arson attack on bus is not an unexceptional incident as the criminals used gunpowder which is not available for general use," said Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haque Inu.

Such attacks are taking place across the country frequently in recent times because the attackers were not brought to justice, said CPB President Monzurul Ahsan Khan and General Secretary Muzahidul Islam Selim in a statement.

Sammilita Nagorik Samaj, Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum, Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal and Sylhet Division Development Action Council also condemned the arson attack on the double-decker.