Businessmen, transport owners and workers in Sirajganj are still afraid to move their vehicles freely on the highways in anticipation of a renewed outbreak of violence which marked the run-up to the 10th parliamentary election.
The election took place on Sunday amid threats of consequence by the opposition alliance, stoking fears that highway violence might have a new lease of life if a political reconciliation is not reached soon.
Over a hundred of vehicles, including goods-carrying trucks, came under various forms of attack in the past one month in different upazilas of the district. They were torched, vandalised and often looted, by miscreants with suspected links to the opposition.
The Dhaka-Rajshahi and Bogra-Nagarbari highways were at the forefront of risks, where incidents of arson, vandalism and robbery occurred almost on a regular basis. The arsonists, armed with petrol bombs and cocktails, often targeted vehicles late at night.
Three traders – Akhter Hossain of Pabna, Imran of Bogra, and another unidentified one – were killed during such late-night attacks lately. Among other victims were bus-driver Ataur Rahman and his assistant Shahin, both now undergoing treatment at a Dhaka hospital.
According to an unverified account, at least 50 people including transport workers and businessmen were wounded in highway attacks in the last one month.
Three suspected robbers were killed in a gunfight with police on the Dhaka-Sirajganj-Rajshahi highway recently. The reinforcement of highway officials, however, brought little relief to the distraught businessmen who think no security initiatives will be enough unless backed by a political goodwill.
In this regard, Emran Hossain, superintendent of police in Sirajganj, said: “We have orders from the home ministry about ensuring security for goods-laden trucks.”
“Police as well as officials of Rab and Army are taking care of security risks on the highways. Some truck-drivers fell into the traps of miscreants because of their not seeking police security.”
Deputy Commissioner of Sirajganj Md Billal Hossain said: “Police, Army and Rab officials were deployed in the areas between Hatikumrul circle and Baghbari of the district to ensure safe transportation of urea fertilisers.”
“Fertilisers were transported without any hassle to different districts of the northern region in the past few days.”