The third spell of nationwide 72-hour road-rail-waterway blockade, called by the BNP-led 18-party alliance, is passing off amid stray incidents of violence across the country today (Saturday).
The blockade started at 6:00am and it will continue until 6:00am Tuesday if it is not extended further unlike the previous two spells.
Dhaka
In the capital, activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir, student body of Jamaat-e-Islami, blasted eight crude bombs from a sudden procession at Banasri in Rampura around 8:25am and left the spot quickly being chased by police.
Later, police arrested four activists along with four crude bombs from the spot.
Mirpur
Around 7:45am, Swechchhasebak Dal activists brought out a procession from Bhashantek area in support of the blockade and vandalised 5-6 battery-run easy- bikes. Later, the procession was dispersed in police action. There were two bomb blasts at that time.
Around 8:00am, a chase and counter-chase ensued between police and blockaders in Gabtali area. There was also a bomb explosion. Later, police arrested a man from the scene.
Khilgaon
At Sipahibagh of Khilgaon around 7:30am, Shibir activists brought out a procession and blocked the road by torching tyres. Later, they moved away from the spot before police approached.
Tejgaon
Around 7:00am, BNP activists brought out a procession at Satrasta intersection of Tejgaon, which was dispersed in police action. There was a bomb blast.
On the other hand, blockaders brought out a procession in Tejgaon truck stand area around 6:45am and they moved towards nearby rail tracks. On information, police rushed to the spot and dispersed the blockaders.
Jatrabari
At about 4:30am, blockaders set a stationary bus afire at Dholaipar in Jatrabari.
Mawa
Two launches were set on fire at the Mawa ferry landing station on Saturday, the first day of the third Opposition backed 72-hr transport blockade. Meanwhile, a transport worker sleeping in a bus, was severely burnt when blockade campaigners torched it at the ferry landing station in Munshiganj’s Louhozang Upazila.
Louhozang Police Station OC Abul Kalam told reporters that the incidents happened early on Saturday.
Scores of buses and trains had been torched during Opposition’s recent strikes and blockades, but this is the second incident when water vessels have been targeted. On Wednesday, a launch was set on fire at Shariyatpur.
OC Kalam said two launches, anchored at Mawa landing station, were torched around 2.30am early on Saturday. Locals had put out the fire soon enough to avert major damage. Two other vessels were also damaged, he said.
Meanwhile, two buses parked at the landing station area were also set on fire.
Transport worker Alamgir Hossain, 23, sustained severe burns, when the bus he was sleeping on, was set on fire
“He was sleeping in the bus when it was set to fire,” said OC Azad.
Hossain, who hails from Munshiganj’s Srinagar Upazila, has been rushed to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
Laxmipur
Blockade supporters blocked the Laxmipur-Dhaka Highway by placing logs and burning tyres in separate places of the district. They brought out separate processions in several parts of the town in the morning. No long-route buses left the district bus terminal. Additional police forces remained deployed at the important points of the town.
Bogra
The activists of the BNP-led 18-party alliance blocked the Bogra-Rangpour Highway in Matidhali area.
Background
Hot on the heels of its countrywide 131-hour blockade programme protesting the election schedule, BNP joint secretary general Salauddin Ahmed on Thursday announced the 72-hour nationwide blockade through a video message sent from an undisclosed location.
There had been violent incidents like vandalising and torching of vehicles, clashes between blockade supporters and police and ruling party activists, arrest of opposition leaders and activists and crude bomb blasts allover the country, including the capital, killing the 45 people and injuring over 1,000 and damaging several hundred vehicles.
On November 25, the Chief Election Commissioner announced that the 10th parliamentary elections will be held on January 5 next.
Source: UNB
