18-party alliance activists had put up barricades on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway at 15-20 spots starting around 10pm Friday, following the arrests of three senior BNP leaders in the capital.
Clashes between police and the protesters were reported from Sitakunda upazila’s Sadar town, Kumira, Sultana Mondir, Kadamrasul, Bara Awlia and other places. Sources said the protesters were breaking up and regrouping to block the highway as police approached them.
The protesters set fire to seven vehicles on the highway and vandalised more than a 100, local sources said. Vehicle movement had ceased on the highway.
Sitakunda police station Sub-Inspector Shah Alam told the Dhaka Tribune that police had brought the situation under control. He said two policemen had been injured in clashes with the pickets.
The station’s Officer-In-Charge SM Badiuzzaman said police had brought the situation under control and only a few sporadic incidents were taking place.
