A bus helper was burnt as miscreants set fire to the vehicle while he was still sleeping inside in Akkelpur upazila of Joypurhat early today.

The arson attack took place around half an hour before the BNP-led 20-party alliance's 72-hour nationwide hartal began around 6:00am.

Ratan, 18, who suffered 20 percent burn injuries, is undergoing treatment at Shaheed Zia Medical College and Hospital in Bogra.

The miscreants set ablaze two parked buses at the Akkelpur-Bogra bus stand around 5:30am, informed Abul Kalam Azad, officer-in-charge of Akkelpur Police Station.

Ratan, son of Ajgor Ali of Ismailpur village in Dupchachia upazila of Bogra, was sleeping inside one of the two buses during the arson attack, the OC said.

Akkelpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Golam Md Shahnewaz and local police visited the spot.