A fresh spell of nationwide 72-hour road-rail-waterway blockade, called by the BNP-led 18-party alliance, got underway on Saturday morning.
The blockade started at 6am and it will continue until 6am Tuesday if it is not extended further unlike the previous two spells.
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.
Meanwhile, the government on Friday announced a three-day national mourning from Saturday to pay homage to iconic anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela of South Africa.
Nelson Mandela, who became one of the world’s most beloved statesmen and a colossus of the 20th century when he emerged from 27 years in prison to negotiate an end to white minority rule in South Africa, died late Thursday (South Africa time) at the age of 95.
The opposition combine has already enforced 202 hours of road-rail-waterway blockade across the country in two spells -– 71-hour and 131-hour ones — after the announcement of the election schedule for the 10th parliamentary elections that left at least 45 people dead.
The third spell of the blockade programme is also meant to push for the release of the arrested alliance leaders.
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 people 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: UNBConnect
