Incidents of violence and arson were reported during the second day of the BNP-Jamaat’s countrywide three-day blockade on Wednesday.
Near Pabna’s Ishwardi junction, unidentified attackers hurled two crude bombs at the Maitree Express train around noon.
However, the train was not damaged by the attack and no passenger was injured as the crude bomb exploded beside the passing train when it was heading towards Dhaka from Kolkata.
Confirming the incident, Harunuzzaman Rumel, officer-in-charge (OC) of Ishwardi railway police station, said that an object was thrown at the Maitree Express, resulting in damage to a window of a train compartment. Signs of arson were discovered at the scene.
In Bhairab, a tea shopkeeper named Md Ashiq Mia succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday. He was injured when police lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the BNP men at around 8am on Tuesday.
In Savar, a bus of Rimi Travels was set ablaze by some unidentified men on the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Savar on Wednesday morning. Local people said the youths hurled petrol bombs at the bus.
At least two persons, including a Juba Dal activist, were arrested in Chittagong. A gun and explosives were recovered from their possession on Tuesday.
One arrestee, Shafiqul Islam Sohel, is the president of Ward 6 unit of Jubo Dal under Salimpur Union.
In Kotwali area, police arrested a man for detonating cocktails and recovered one unexploded cocktail and two petrol bombs from his possession. The arrestee was identified as Md Touhidul Islam.
Earlier in the day, some unidentified individuals vandalized a bus before setting it on fire in Karnaphuli. The bus was heading from Karnaphuli to Patiya after dropping off garment workers at their factory.
In Bogra, some BNP-Jamaat men set a goods-laden truck on fire in Baghopara area of Sadar Upazila. Some picketers vandalized a covered van in Tinmatha area of Dhaka-Bogra Highway. At least 5-6 cocktails were hurled at the time while police fired tear shells to disperse the pickers.
Meanwhile, cargo vehicles of SR Parcel, which is owned by BNP leader Golam Mohamamd Siraj, were seen plying the roads.
In Satkhira, no effect of the blockade was seen on the roads and highways. Although long-distance buses stayed in their counters, city buses were seen plying the roads as usual.
Police arrested 18 opposition leaders and activists, including district unit Jamaat Secretary Abdul Aziz.
In Barisal, at least 19 leaders and activists of the opposition BNP and its affiliate bodies were arrested by police on Wednesday.
According to Anwar Hossain, OC of Kotwali police station, the arrestees were detained from various parts of the city during raids beginning on Wednesday night.
In Sylhet, police arrested six members of the BNP-Jamaat during a chase and counter chase in the city’s Bandarbazar area.
The local unit of the Juba Dal observed a day-long strike Wednesday to protest the death of an activist named Zillur Rahman on Tuesday. He was reportedly killed as his motorbike overturned when he was chased by police in Dakkhin Surma Upazila.
In Moulvibazar, BNP supporters brought out a procession demanding the release of local and central leaders of the party.
In Rangpur, BNP-Jamaat men blocked the Dhaka-Rangpur Highway for around 15 minutes and then quickly left the area.
Our correspondents Ariful Islam Sabbir from Savar, Anisur Rahman Swapan from Barisal, Md Emroze Khandker from Pabna, Asaduzzaman Sardar from Satkhira, Md Serajul Islam from Sylhet, Saiful Islam from Moulvibazar, Rashedul Hasan Kajal from Faridpur and Pimple Barua from Chittagong contribute to the report.
