Incidents of blasts, arson attacks and vandalism on the highways marked the fourth day of BNP-led 20-party’s indefinite blockade yesterday.
A bomb was hurled at the residence of Law Minister Anisul Haque at Banani around 8pm damaging a car on the premises, Banani OC Bhuiyan Mahbub said.
Miscreants blasted two bombs at Mirpur 10 area injuring two people including police constable Babul Mia. The incident took place around 6:30pm. OC Salauddin Ahmed suspected that the blockaders hurled the bombs from the foot over-bridge at the intersection.
In Nayapaltan area, two crude bombs were blasted around 7:20pm in front of the Scout building. Police detained one suspect, Duty Officer Shahidullah said.
Another incident of bomb blast was reported in Notunbazar area of Pragati Sarani in the capital around 7.30pm.
In Laxmipur, Jubo League supporters yesterday vandalised five shops and two motorcycles at Hazir Haat of Kamalnagar upazila following the death of its leader around 11pm on Thursday.
President of Jubo League’s Underchar union unit Md Yusuf, 35, was killed and his two brothers injured in an attack by the blockaders at Char Basu Bazar under Kamalnagar.
OC Kabir Ahmed of Kamalnagar police said blockade supporters attacked the siblings with iron rods at the bazaar when they were starting for home on a motorcycle. Being hit, Yusuf lost control over the motorcycle and hit a tree beside the road.
In Narayanganj, blockaders set fire to a bus and vandalised some six vehicles at Fatullah. Witnesses said 15-20 blockaders intercepted Dhaka-bound “Dighirpar Paribahan” bus from Munshiganj and torched it pouring petrol.
In Barisal, one pickup truck and a three wheeler were torched in Gournadi early yesterday. Police arrested five blockade supporters.
Two separate cases accusing 56 activists and leaders of the BNP and its front organisations were filed naming 26 persons, Sajjad Hossain, OC of Gournadi police, said.
In Gaibandha, three trucks were torched while some seven vehicles vandalised yesterday on Rangpur-Dhaka highway. Seven people were injured in the attacks.
Police fired 120 rubbers bullets to disperse the blockaders. The demonstrators blasted around 20 crude bombs. Police arrested an Islami Chhatra Shibir leader.
In Gazipur, police arrested 12 Jamaat-Shibir activists from Chondona Square area yesterday and recovered four hand bombs and some Jihadi books, Police Superintedent Md Harun Ur Rashid said.
In Sylhet, the district BNP unit called hartal for tomorrow in protest against the arrest of party’s Vice-Chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury.
Rail sabotage continues
Passengers of two trains in Dhaka-Mymensingh route survived major accident yesterday as some miscreants uprooted bolts of a fish plate of the tracks in Bhanua area near Joydebpur in the afternoon. The spot was one kilometre off the station.
Station Master Shahidul Islam said Bhawal Express and DEMU from Mymensingh finally reached the capital after the authorities repaired the tracks.
Police blamed the blockade supporters for the incidents.
Meanwhile, over the removal of fish plate in Uri Rail Station area in Joypurhat on Thursday, a case was filed yesterday against 50-60 unnamed people with Shantahar Railway police.
Two separate cases were filed against 20-25 unnamed people for torching a potato-laden truck at Himchi Bazar and a coal-laden truck at Shimultoli of Panchbibi.
