Stray violence marks last day of blockade

The last day of the ongoing road-rail-waterway blockade, enforced by the BNP-led 18-party alliance, is underway amid stray incidents of violence across the country on Thursday.

Our Correspondents report: Three crude bombs were exploded in capital’s Mirpur, Gabtoli and Jatrabari areas in the morning.

The Jatrabari crude bomb explosion caused a large fire, leaving a helper of a passenger bus severely injured.

The leaders and activists of BNP brought out processions in Segun Bagicha and Bijoy Sarani areas while Jamaat-e-Islami members in Kadamtali area.

In Chittagong: A CNG-run Auto Rickshaw driver received severe burn injuries as blockaders set his vehicle on fire around 7:30am.

In Laxmipur: Jamaat-e-Islami and Chhatra Shibir activists put up barricades at several points of the district and burnt the effigy of Chief election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed.

In Barisal: Eight people, including police, were injured in a between blockade supporters and law enforcers in Port Road area around 8am.

Meanwhile, the blockade supporters vandalised three vehicles in the area.

Earlier on Friday, 18-party called a 72-hour blockade from Saturday morning protesting the polls schedule.

Later, it was extended by 59 hours until 5pm Thursday.

At least 22 people were killed in last five days.