On the first day of the BNP’s non-stop countrywide blockade, road communication links with the capital stayed disrupted as almost no bus left or entered Dhaka. Local bus services inside the city, however, regained normalcy along with inter-district launch services from Sadarghat.
The city’s streets stayed relatively empty and transport terminals saw fewer passengers as those who could afford it chose to stay indoors fearing any sudden outburst of street violence surrounding the existing turbulent political scenario.
Sadiqur Rahman, an employee of a private bank found waiting at the city’s Technical intersection bus stand, told the Dhaka Tribune that when he stepped out of his home yesterday, he did so with the fear of not knowing whether he would be able to return home safely.
“Irrespective of whether there is a hartal, blockade or any other tensed situation, we the jobholders must attend our offices on time. No excuse will be accepted [by the employer]. But the thing is, we have to remain anxious about our every step on the road,” Sadiqur said.
His fear was not unfounded. Unidentified miscreants torched at least six vehicles at different spots in the capital during the blockade yesterday.
A man sustained burn injuries in an arson attack near the Lal Masjid area in the capital’s Kadamtali, while crude bombs were also exploded at Natunbazar in the afternoon.
Another jobholder, Nargis Ara, said: “Such violent and anarchic situations are very fearful for the people – especially the women. I can not explain how unsafe and tensed I feel when I go outside home. It becomes a serious panic for us.
“I do not know whether I would become a victim like the woman – who along with her children suffered burns in an arson attack few days ago. So it [political unrest] should be stopped for the sake of democracy and for the sake of the innocent people.” Nargis added.
Meanwhile, inter-district bus companies continued to keep their shutters closed yesterday. Visiting the city’s Gabtoli, Sayedabad and Mohakhali bus terminals, the Dhaka Tribune found that almost all bus counters were closed.
Staffs from different bus services claimed that they have indefinitely suspended their operations out of security concerns surrounding the BNP’s blockade.
Md Apu, an employee of Hanif Paribahan, said: “When the situation becomes normal and when our owners feel safe, then the inter-district service will be resumed.”
However, some officials working at bus counters claimed they could not run their buses as there was not enough passengers, adding that they would resume operations in the evening if they could find people to fill their buses.
Although ticket-seeking people were seen waiting at Gabtoli and Sayedabad terminals, their numbers were relatively small.
Ajmal Mia, waiting at the Gabtoli bus terminal, told the Dhaka Tribune that he had been waiting several hours for a bus to Thakurgaon, and was contemplating on whether he should hitch a ride on a truck or other vehicles.
Sources, meanwhile, said some buses left Gabtoli and Sayedabad for Aricha and Mawa ferry terminals.
On the other hand, after a day of almost no inbound or outbound activities at Sadarghat, launch services also resumed yesterday, according to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).
Mohammad Solaiman, a BIWTA transport inspector, said: “On Tuesday morning around 40 launches from different districts reached the terminal. Launch service has now resumed across the country.”
Normal operations was also seen in the railway service, the only communication service which was active on Monday – the day when the Awami League and the BNP both called programmes in Dhaka to mark the one year anniversary of the tenth national election.