The last day of the BNP-Jamaat's ninth phase blockade was marked by sporadic incidents of arson attacks, and a crude bomb blast across Bangladesh including the capital city on Monday.
Despite reports of vandalism, Dhaka city witnessed traffic jams on key roads.
From Monday morning, the leaders and activists of BNP-Jamaat were also seen bringing out protest marches in different areas of the capital.
Meanwhile, vehicular movement was found normal on roads. The long-haul buses were also seen operating from morning.
The overall traffic situation was normal in Mirpur Road, Farmgate, Bijoysarani, Jahangir Gate, Mohakhali, Gulshan, Tejgaon, Paltan, Motijheel, Kakrail, Pressclub, Gulistan areas from morning to 5pm.
Amid the blockade, traffic congestion was seen in Farmgate, Bijoy Sarani, Mohakhali, Motijheel areas since morning. As the day progressed, the traffic jam also increased.
A bus was set on fire around 2:30pm in Gulistan. Besides, miscreants set fire to a moving passenger bus and hay-laden truck in Gazipur on Monday
Another bus was set on fire on the Chandra-Nabinagar road at Jirani Bazar around 9am, and a hay-laden truck was set on fire in front of the Chandra Forest office in Kaliakair upazila around 4am
Along with this, a crude bomb was exploded in front of the traffic police box at Paltan intersection around 3:44pm which reduced the traffic in Gulistan in the evening.
At least two on-duty traffic police sergeants were injured in the incident
Meanwhile, long-haul bus service from Fulbaria, Sayedabad, Mohakhali bus terminal remains uninterrupted since morning. Due to the shortage of passengers, buses are not being released from the terminal on time.
Besides, railway stations, launch terminal also witnessed the rush of passengers.
Led by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the leaders and activists brought out a protest march in Uttara supporting the blockade.
Leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Swechasebak Dal led by Senior Vice-President Yasin Ali and Organizational Secretary Nazmul Hasan, brought out a protest march at Asadgate in the capital on Monday morning.
At the same time in the morning, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists held a protest march from Purana Paltan intersection to Dainik Bangla intersection in the capital.
The opposition BNP has announced another 48-hour blockade starting Wednesday morning as the party and its allies enforce a nationwide blockade set to end early Tuesday.
Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, senior joint secretary general of the party, made the announcement in a virtual press conference on Monday afternoon.
The tenth phase of the blockade will start at 6am on Wednesday and will continue till Friday 6am.
Following a brief pause over the weekend, the BNP and its like-minded parties initiated a two-day nationwide blockade on Sunday with many of its top leaders behind bars.
The opposition parties observed blockades in nine phases to mount pressure on the Awami League government to quit power and hold the next election under a non-partisan administration.
BNP and like-minded parties observed a nationwide dawn-to-dusk hartal on October 29 in protest against the attacks on BNP’s grand rally at Naya Paltan that ended amid the incidents of torching vehicles and clashes, leaving three people dead.
Half an hour into the start of BNP's much-talked-about grand rally at Naya Paltan on October 28, BNP leaders and workers locked in a clash with the ruling party activists and police at Kakrail. The violent clashes soon spread around Naya Paltan, foiling the rally midway.
