2 sustain burn injuries, 4 vehicles torched in lacklustre blockade, hartal.
The opposition sponsored nonstop countrywide transport blockade reinforced by the weeklong general strike passed its 51st day largely peacefully on Wednesday, barring some sporadic incidents of vandalism, bomb blast and arson attacks. The strike and blockade appeared to hardly affect everyday life in the capital, as elsewhere in the country, though most of the inter-district passenger services remained out of operation. Two people sustained burn injuries and two vehicles were torched in Narayanganj and Rajshahi. In addition to the blockade, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance called a 72-hour shutdown beginning from Sunday morning, which was later extended for another 48 hours up to Friday morning, like in the last couple of weeks, demanding resignation of Sheikh Hasina-led government to ‘pave the way for restoration of democracy and people’s voting right’ and protesting at the government’s repressive actions.
Few long-distance buses operated during daytime across the country, while several crude bombs went off at different places in the capital. The arrest warrant on BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, issued by a special court, increased panic among city dwellers, who feared an escalation in violence across the city. As the news of the warrant spread, BNP’s student front Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal brought out several processions in the city. Despite that, there were streams of traffic on major city streets while shops and markets were open. Private and government offices, banks and business establishments functioned as usual. Most of the educational institutions, however, remained closed. The authorities shifted the SSC examination scheduled to be held today to a later date. Trains which were running behind the schedule over the last couple of weeks are now running almost on schedule, while the launch services carried on as usual on waterways.
Activists of BNP and its ally, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, brought out flash processions and charged crude bombs at different parts in the capital, as elsewhere in the country. Miscreants torched a passenger bus ‘Ananda Paribahan’ at Dayaganj in Demra in the capital. However, no casualties were reported in the incident. Law enforcers in their regular drives across the country continued to arrest opposition activists. Police arrested about 200 BNP-Jamaat men in the capital as elsewhere in the country from Tuesday noon to Wednesday noon. New Age Rajshahi correspondent reported that miscreants hurled firebomb at a truck which was carrying coal at Binodpur area in Rajshahi city early Wednesday. The truck, heading to Dhaka from Chapainawabganj, was burnt following the petrol bomb attack. None was however injured in the incident.
According to New Age Narayanganj correspondent, suspected pickets set fire to a bus of Asia Paribahan parked at a filing station near Gauchia market in Bhulta area of Rupganj in Narayanganj early Wednesday. The helper and conductor of the bus, who were sleeping inside, suffered burns. Both of them were sent to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. New Age Bogra correspondent reported police Wednesday filed a case against 27 activists of BNP and Jamaat and 35 unknown people in connection with a recent incident of setting fire to the office of Dupchanchia upazila unit Awami League. Activists of BNP and Jamaat ransacked the house of a local AL leader at Gokul in the district. Our Gazipur correspondent reported blockaders set two buses on fire in the district. No casualties were, however, reported.
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