Transports workers and passengers have become the main targets of arson attacks by hartal pickets who throw petrol bombs on running vehicles before passengers manage to get down, sending most of them to hospitals with severe burns injuries.
At least 13 drivers and workers of different transports and their passengers were killed and scores of others injured in recent hartal programmes when dozens of vehicles were burnt or badly damaged across the country.
Most of the victims suffered burn injuries as pickets set vehicles on fire pouring high-flammable ingredients like gunpowder, petrol and kerosene while some others fell in victims when pickets hurled bombs at running vehicles full of passengers.
In addition, a section of pickets chose to disguise as passengers and set vehicles alight before they get down.
The registrar books at the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) are filled with new arrivals of burn victims from every hartal day either from the city or elsewhere.
At least 58 people were admitted there with multiple burns injuries in last 17 days from October 27, the beginning of the first spell of 60-hour hartal. Around 200 others sustained burn injuries during hartals earlier this year.
“Political leaders get relief after giving hartals but they forget about us and leave us to die in fire on the streets. They don’t think who will feed our families if we won’t come out and earn bread,” Mohammad Roni, a 13-year-old bus helper, who was recovering from injuries from hartal fire.
Among the victims, Mostafizur Rahman Mukul, 36, an official of Biswash Group, died last week. He got most of the body burnt when pickets set an auto-rickshaw on fire at Savar on his way home. A 12-year boy Monir Hossain, who was travelling with his truck driver father, also lost his battle for life last week at the same DMCH burn unit.
Besides, three truck drivers died from burn injuries in September.
Shamsur Rahman Samsu, one of the victims who received burn injuries during Jamaat-e-Islami’s 48-hour countrywide general strike, died at DMCH on September 22. He was going to Panchagarh from Sirajganj with a truck loaded with fertiliser.
Mohammad Nazrul Islam Bhuiyan, 35, was driving a passenger bus on the Azimpur-Gazipur route when a group of hartal supporters stopped the bus at the Gazipur bypass and hurled a petrol bomb, leaving him dead on September 21. At least 10 passengers also were injured.
Another victim, truck driver Sekendar Bepari, 42, was on his way to Chittagong from Dhaka Wednesday night to deliver three power generators, died on September 20.
Earlier on April 11, Monsur Ali Gazi, 40, received bullet injury while driving away a human hauler in Dumuria of Khulna and died after sometime of the shot.
During hartal hours on April 9, truck Driver Sahidul Islam Khokon, 41, died in an accident caused by chase and throwing of bricks by pickets.
On March 17, three physicians Dr Omar Faruk, Dr Rakibul Haque and Dr Rayhan Sharif admitted at DMCH with serious burn injuries after picketers set fire on their vehicle with Petrol bomb at Haterjheel area.
On March 18, Nur Mohammad, a Truck driver was killed in a road crash after he was chased by hartal picketers at Dagonbhuiya of Feni.
On February 4, Rashed Mahmud, a bank staff, was burnt to death on the spot after picketers set fire on a passenger bus at Uttara area of capital.
On February 13, Jafor Munshi, a liftman of Agrani Bank head office died in burn injury after picketer set fire another vehicle at Motijheel area.
On February 18, Mohammad Iqbal, a CNG driver, was killed in accident in Badda area after pickets chased him. On the same day, microbus passenger Hafiz Abdur Rahman, 60, died after being chase by hartal supporter.
The list goes longer with more such victims. On January 31, Mohammad Imon, a driver, was killed in road accident after pickets chased his vehicle in Feni.
Benazir Ahmed, commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said that hartal pickets are devoid of responsibility and humanity. “How could they force innocent people, including children, to death by setting them on fire?” He questioned.
Rustum Ali, senior vice-president of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Samiti and general secretary of Truck-Covered Van Owners’ Association, said, “The transport sector is in risk as miscreants target vehicles. Drivers, helpers and passengers are not safe now.”
“Attacks with arson, petrol and bombs on transports, workers and passengers are intentional,” he said.
“We are preparing lists of how many transports were damaged and how many of our people were killed and injured”, said Rustum Ali, adding that they have decided to demand compensation and security from the government.
