Gabtoli turns into battleground; over 70 cocktails exploded, 10 vehicles including police petrol vehicle torched and over 40 smashed, several people including cops hurt
The incidents of killing, clash, arson, vandalism were the key features that marked the BNP-led opposition alliance-sponsored countrywide eight-hour long road blockade on Sunday.
Gabtoli witnessed the worst violence in the capital while Panthapath, Rampura, Mirpur, Mohakhali, parts of Old Dhaka and Jurain and Postagola areas of Jatrabari were also affected by the violence, reports our correspondent covering the incident.
One person was killed in Sutrapur of Old Dhaka while another was killed in Sirajganj during the clash between pro-blockade activists and their rivals.
BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir however during a press briefing claimed that four people were killed across the country.
More than 70 cocktails were went off, around 10 vehicles were torched and over 40 others were vandalised during the blockade in the city.
The clashes between the pro-blockade activists and the groups opposing the blockade and law enforcers also took place at different city points, leaving several people injured.
Law enforcers detained several people across the country.
On the other hand, around seven vehicles were set on fire at Jurain, Mirpur, Panthapath and Abdullahpur in the capital, firefighters told The Daily Star around 8:30am.
The incidents of killing, arson, clash and vandalism were also reported from Narayanganj, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Lalmonirhat and Laxmipur.
GABTOLI
The entire Gabtoli area in the capital turned into a battleground as the pro-blockade activists and their rivals fought pitched battles for five hours from 6:00am.
The marauding activists, equipped with firearms, knives, machetes and sticks also fired blank shots to create panic.
Several people including BNP leader Nazim Uddin Alam; Sultan Salauddin Tuku, former Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) president; and Ripon Al Mamun, publicity secretary of Ward No 7 unit of Jubo Dal; sustained injuries during the clash.
Police had to fire 15 to 20 canisters of teargas shells and several rounds of rubber bullets to disperse clashing groups who also hurled a number of cocktails.
The clashes ensued when around 500 pro-blockade activists including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir and the front and associate bodies of main opposition BNP — Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal– put barricade on the Gabtoli main road setting fire to tyres.
Later, the anti-blockade activists including ruling Awami League and its associate bodies and Gabtoli bus-truck Sramik League workers came with anti-blockade slogan and swooped on the demonstrators, prompting the clashes.
Ruling party supporters also beat up Kamal Hossain Sabbir, a Shibir activist, during the clash.
At one stage, the pro-blockade activists retreated and took position near Amen Bazar Bride.
Another group of pro-blockade activists led by Shirin Sultana, general secretary of Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal, the women’s wing of the BNP, took to the street.
BNP leader Nazim Uddin Alam and Sultan Salauddin Tuku, former Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) president, were injured when police charged batons on a rally at Amin Bazaar area on the outskirt of the capital.
Police along with a group of anti-blockaded activists attacked the rally near Amin Bazaar Bridge at around 11:00am, reports our correspondent from the area.
COCKTAIL BLASTS AT RAMPURA
Seven cocktails exploded in front of Bangladesh Television Bhaban at Rampura in the morning.
PANTHAPATH
Three policemen sustained burn injuries in a hit-and-run attack in the morning hours. The pro-blockade miscreants hurled a petrol bomb on a police patrol car near the intersection of Panthapath and Green Road.
The vehicle was totally gutted. Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police said the vehicle belonged to their station.
On-duty police officer ASI Razzak told The Daily Star that they suspect that the petrol bomb was hurled from a multi-storied building.
CENTRAL ROAD
The blockade supporters attacked Madina Tank office, owned by Awami League leader Hazi Selim, on Central Road and vandalised four vehicles inside its compound.
The group also ransacked at least eight more vehicles on Green Road around 7:30am.
NAYAPALTAN
Meanwhile, BNP and Jamaat men held separate processions in front of the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office since the morning.
LABAID COMES UNDER ATTACK
The pro-blockade activists also vandalised the glass panes of LabAid Hospital in Dhanmondi area of the capital, said Imran Chowdhury, director of the hospital.
MIRPUR
Blockade supporters also set fire to a bus parked in front of Sonny Cinema Hall at Mirpur-1 around 4:30am when the driver, helper and conductor of the bus were sleeping inside it.
Feeling excessive heat, the trio woke up and jumped out of the bus, said Mominul, a security guard of Dutch-Bangla ATM Booth adjacent to the spot.
Another bus used to carry garment workers was also set afire few yards off the cinema hall around 6:30am.
At Mirpur Kazipara, sporadic clashes took place between police and the activists of Jamaat-Shibir, JCD and Jubo Dal for nearly 30 minutes from 6:00am.
They also exploded several cocktails prompting police to fire rubber bullets, said Abdul Latif, officer-in-charge of Kafrul Police Station.
A number of people were injured during the incident and several were picked up from the spot.
MOHAKHALI
The blockade supporters also brought out a procession at Mohakhali in the morning and set a vehicle ablaze.
Police fired five rounds of rubber bullets when the pro-blockade activists brought out another procession in front of Rawa Club in the capital around 11:15am.
UTTARA
A BRTC bus was also torched at Uttara around 5:30am.
JATRABARI
Another group of unruly demonstrators also vandalised two vehicles and set fire to two others near Alam Market in Jurain around 6:00am. They also exploded around 50 cocktails in front of the market.
Police recovered three unexploded cocktails from the spot.
The demonstrators also set afire to a vehicle before Azad Re-rolling Mill in Postagola.
A group of 50 people also damaged windshields of at least 30 trucks stationed at Alibahar of Postagola.
Police fired several tear gas shells during a chase and counter-chase with them.
Later, three more vehicles were also torched there.
BACKGROUND
The BNP-led 18-party alliance on November 29 called the blockade from 6:00am to 2:00pm for December 9 aiming at detaching the capital form rest of the country to press home their demands, especially restoration of the caretaker government.
Opposition leaders on Saturday once again urged people not to bring their vehicles on roads during the blockade. They also threatened the government of tougher steps if it created any obstacle.
Leaders of ruling Awami League on the other hand vowed to resist the opposition’s programme.
Against such backdrop, security measures and vigilance in the capital have been beefed up. Around 12,000 additional forces have been called in to work with police and Rapid Action Battalion in dealing with the opposition parties.
The Dhaka district administration would run 19 mobile courts to take instant punitive measures against troublemakers. Of the mobile courts, five will be operated by the elite force.
Source: The Daily Star
