Blockade and vandalism by BNP supporters on the Dhaka-Chittagong
highway have caused a gridlock stretching for over 40 kms from
Chittagong to Sitakunda until mid-Saturday.
The blockade happened after the arrest of senior BNP leaders on Friday night.
The congestion caused by vehicles forced to a halt have caused much
suffering for passengers including those coming from different
districts to attend the admission tests at Chittagong University of
Engineering and Technology (CUET).
The BNP on Friday afternoon declared the third 18-Party alliance
sponsored three-day nationwide general strike, the third in as many
weeks beginning from Sunday.
Several hours later at night, police arrested party Standing Committee
member Moudud Ahmed, MK Anwar, Rafiqul Islam Mia, BNP Chairperson
Khaleda Zia’s Advisor Abdul Awal Mintoo and Special Assistant Shamsur
Rahman Shimul Biswas.
The main opposition on Saturday has decided to extend the Opposition
strike by 12 more hours.
However, few hours after the arrests on Friday night, leaders and
activists of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami set up road blockades at various
points on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.
The blockades were reported from Sitakunda Upazila including Dakkhin
Bypass, Kumira, Banshbaria and Barabkunda.
The Opposition activists also fought pitched battles with police in
phases until the situation was finally controlled around 3am in the
morning.
Assistant Superintendent of Police of Sitakunda zone Syed Iqbal Ali
told journalists that Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel were
deployed to contain violence.
But the troopers were withdrawn in the morning when normalcy returned.
Local journalists said the blockades and clashes on the highway
created traffic congestion from the Chittagong City Gate area to
Sitakunda by the time the situation had been controlled.
Kumira Highway Police Sergeant Md Shahin told journalists that they
were trying to clear the snarls as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, many students coming from various districts could not
attend the CUET admission tests in time due to the severe gridlock.
One of the examinee’s brother, Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury told
journalists that the bus they were on was stuck at Sitakunda on Friday
night.
They left the bus in the morning as it did not move at all.
“We walked, and then took an auto-rickshaw and then a bus to reach
CUET at 10:45am. Then my younger brother entered the examination
hall.”
CUET’s public relations officer Fazlur Rahman said the test had begun
at 10am sharp. “We knew about the traffic jam. We also allowed the
students to enter the exam hall even at 11am.”
Those who were late, were given some extra time to finish the test, he said.
However, no long-route buses left Chittagong for Dhaka since Saturday
morning due to the tailbacks.
Passengers have been waiting at the terminals and counters for hours
to start their journey before the strike starts on Sunday — but with
no luck.
Sitakunda Police Station OC Badiuzzaman said the tailbacks were mainly
caused by the damage caused by the Opposition activists.-bdnews24.com
