At least eight people were killed and over 150 injured as the 4th day of the road-rail-waterway blockade, enforced by the opposition alliance, passed off amid the escalation of violence at different parts of the country on Tuesday. Among the dead, three people, including two Shibir men and a Jubo League activist, were killed in Satkhira, while two people – a covered van driver and a pedestrian –in Chittagong, two others – a Shibir man and a Jubo Dal activist — in Chandupur, and a blockader in Noakhali districts. According to reports reaching the UNB news desk, two Shibir activists — Hossain Ali and Arizul Islam — were shot dead as blockade supporters clashed with police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members at Sakhipur intersection in Debhata upazila while a Jubo League activist, Giasuddin, was hacked to death by blockaders in Sadar upazila of Satkhira district. In Chandpur, a Shibir activist, Siam, 14, and a Jubo Dal activist, Ratan Miah, 25, — were killed and six others injured as police opened fire on blockaders at Kalibari in Sadar upazila. In Chittagong, a covered van driver Mahbub was killed as his vehicle, after being chased by blockaders, overturned in Chittagong Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) area of the city on Tuesday while a pedestrian, Mizanur Rahman, 22, was killed in a crude bomb attack in the same area. In Noakhli, a blockader, Abdus Salam, 65, drowned in a pond as he jumped into it after being chased by cops in the district town of Maizdicourt. Besides, at least 40 vehicles were damaged, huge crude bombs blasted and at least 80 people were arrested across the country during the 4th day of 18-party’s road, rail and waterways blockade. The train communications of Chittagong with the rest of the country remained halted for three hours as the blockaders uprooted 30-foot rail tracks at Baratakia in Mirsharai upazila. Besides, the train communication of Dinajpur with Panchagarh-Thakurgaon-Parbatipur remained suspended since 1 pm on Monday as the blockaders removed fishplates at different points. In the capital, the 4th day blockade was marked by clashes between police and the blockaders and explosions of crude bombs. Blockaders also brought out small processions and blasted rude bombs at different parts of the city. Rickshaws and auto-rickshaws dominated the city streets in the morning as the numbers of motorised vehicles on the streets was visibly thin. However, no long-route buses left Mohakhali, Saydabad and Gabtoli terminals since morning fearing vandalism. But local busses were seen plying the streets with a very few passengers. Huge law enforcers are guarding the city streets to maintain the law and order. In Chandpur, the miscreants set fire the residence of Khorshedul Islam Khusu – a JP MP candidate for Chandpur -5 (Hajiganj-Shahrasti) at Naohata village under Kalochow South Union in Hajiganj Upazila of the district. Incidents of violence were also reported from different districts, including Manikganj, Gazipur, Meherpur, Bogra, Laxmipur, Barisal, Panchagarh, Sirajganj, Faridpur, Narayangnaj, Khulna, Bhola, Dinajpur, and Rangpur. The opposition combine enforced the blockade programme at 6:00am on Saturday demanding cancellation of the schedule for the 10th parliamentary elections billed for January 5 and protesting the filing of ‘false’ cases against its leaders and activists. The blockade, initially called for 72 hours, was extended further by three days on Monday. Now it will end at 5:00pm on Thursday. The first three days of the blockade passed off amid bomb blasts, vandalism, clashes and arson attacks on buses and railways across the country, leaving six people dead. – UNB
