The seventh day of BNP-led 20-party’s indefinite blockade passed yesterday amid vandalism, arson and explosions that left at least one person dead.
In the capital, miscreants set two buses on fire at Golap Shah Mazar of Gulistan and Norda Bus Stand in the morning, Bhajan Sarker, operator of Fire Service and Civil Defence, confirmed the incidents to the Dhaka Tribune. No one was injured.
He said a bus of “Gazipur Paribahan” was completely gutted in Gulistan area around 10:15am while the other arson attack on a “Turag Paribahan” bus took place around 11:15am.
In Bongshal of Old Dhaka, housewife Maria Akhter Nipa, 25, was injured in a bomb blast in front of Suritola School while going to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment.
In another incident, rickshaw-puller Md Milon sustained injuries when blockade supporters blasted a hand bomb in Nadira Bazar.
At the Tantibazar intersection, a person named Abdul Jabbar, 40, was injured in a bomb blast while crossing the road. He was also rushed to the DMCH.
Two more people including a woman were injured in front of the Azimpur branch of Viqarunnisa Noon School in a hand bomb attack. The victims are Samiul, 45, and Masuda Begum, 25.
In Gaibandha, miscreants hurled a Molotov cocktail at a speeding bus in Kalitola bridge area of Gobindaganj around midnight. One person named Parvez was killed while three others were injured in the incident.
Of the injured, the condition of Asadul was critical. He was taken to Bogra Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College. The identity of the two other victims could not be confirmed immediately.
Masud Parvez, OC of Gobindaganj highway police, said three passengers of a Dhaka-bound Ena Paribahan jumped off the bus through the windows when the attackers had hurled the Molotov cocktail.
But a truck coming from the opposite direction crushed Parvez, leaving him dead on the spot, the OC added.
Our Netrokona correspondent reported that 11 BNP leaders were arrested from Barhatta, Kendua, Modon, Atpara and Mohonganj, Additional Police Superintendent Abdul Momen said.
In Tangail, police filed a case against 89 leaders of the BNP including Ghatail upazila BNP General Secretary AKM Rezaul Karim for creating violence during the blockade. Sub-Inspector Rojob Ali filed the case as a complainant.
Our Comilla correspondent said police had arrested 10 leaders of the BNP and six of Jamaat-e-Islami from Sunday night until yesterday morning on charge of their involvement in violence, Mahbubur Rahman of the district Special Branch said.
In Jessore, miscreants torched an onion-laden truck in Dhopakhola area of Jessore-Benapole road yesterday morning. Spokesperson of Jessore police Reshma Sharmin said coming from Satkhira, the truck was heading towards Jessore. No one was arrested.
Meanwhile, blockaders set fire to a truck early yesterday at Modondanga village under Shailkupa, Jhenidah on Kushtia-Jhenidah road. They earlier torched a bus in Kabirpur area of the same upazila around 11pm on Sunday, Officer-in-Charge Sagir Mia confirmed the matter.
In Savar, police arrested 18 leaders and activists of the BNP after they brought out a rally in Bazar bus stand area in the morning.
Our Narsingdi correspondent reported that hartal supporters brought out a procession on Dhaka-Sylhet highway and carried out vandalism and arson attacks around 9:30am. They also obstructed traffic by burning tyres. Police arrested seven BNP leaders and activists.
Meanwhile, police and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel yesterday escorted buses and goods-laden trucks plying on Dhaka-Chittagong, Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong-Rangamati highways.
Members of BGB were also deployed in the port city. Moreover, the BGB set up a makeshift camp in Mirsarai.
Transport owners after a meeting with the Chittagong police high-ups yesterday decided to operate vehicles under police protection.
Police said they had arrested 42 people including leaders of Jamaat’s student body Islami Chhatra Shibir from the district’s Boalkhali, Sitakunda, Rangunia, Patia, Lohagara and Hathazari areas in an overnight drive for their alleged involvement in subversive activities in the name of observing blockade.