The BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance could not stage any demonstration in the city even on Monday, the second day of its Dhaka March for Democracy programme, due to tied vigilance by law enforcing agencies and ruling party supporters. The opposition however observed sit-in programme at divisional headquarters, district and upazila levels across the country amid clashes with police and ruling party activists leaving over 50 people injured.
In Dhaka, the members of law enforcing agencies and ruling party elements were found very much active to foil any attempt by the opposition supporters to stage any march towards BNP headquarters in the city.
Carrying sticks, the supporters of Juba Mohila Awami League backed by the Awami League activists were involved in a clash with pro-opposition lawyers at the Supreme Court premises exchanging brick bats. However, police intervened to keep the both the sides away.
Police, who barricaded opposition leader Khaleda Zia’s residence, obstructed her to go out for party headquarters at Naya Paltan to join the planned Dhaka March programme again on Monday.
The BNP chairperson came out of her residence at about 2:45pm and got into her car but the law enforcers barred her to leave the house.
Three BNP leaders were released sometime after they were detained while trying to enter Khaleda Zia’s home at about 1:30pm. The leaders are—Selima Rahman, Rasheda Akter Hira, MP and Halima Newaz Early, MP.
In the afternoon, Khaleda Zia was visited by BNP leaders—Shasher Mobin Chowdhury, Sabih Uddin and Reaz Rahman without any obstruction. They were followed by British High Commission Robert Gibson, who met her in the evening.
The sufferings of city dwellers were continued as the movement of public transports in and outside the city remained closed for the second day.
In the evening, two pedestrians were injured in an explosion of crude bomb thrown by an unidentified people in front of the National Press Club.
Meanwhile, no water vessel left the Sadarghat terminal for any destination and no vessel anchored at the terminal on Monday.
The train services were irregular due to what the railway authority said for foggy weather.
Meanwhile, local leaders of 18-party alliance called daylong hartal in Bhola for Tuesday protesting the arrest of BNP leader Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and in Ranpur on the same day protesting the Prime Minister’s visit for election campaign.
Opposition leader Khaleda Zia announced the December 29 March to Dhaka for Democracy programme from a press conference on December 24 to resist the lopsided January 5 elections.
But they could not stage any demonstration on the day due to obstruction by police and ruling party’s tied vigilance at different strategic and entry points of the city.
In addition to police and RAB, the army and BGB soldiers were put on duty as strking force.
The government measure virtually turned the city under siege separating it fro the rest of the country and forcing the people to untold sufferings.
A large number of policemen, members of RAB and BGB were deployed from Gabtali to Hemayetpur via Amin Bazar under Savar police station.
Commuters, including serious patients, were not allowed to enter the capital’s western entry point Gabtali, without police search.
BGB, Police and RAB personnel searched each and every vehicle, including private cars, ambulances and rickshaws at nine points. Those who failed to show their identity cards to law enforcers were not allowed to enter the capital.
A lesser number of old BRTC buses and minibuses were seen to ply in the capital every one or two hours. But rickshaws, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and battery-run three-wheelers were dominating the city streets.
Besides, a few number of buses were seen to left Gabtali Bus terminal for Paturia with huge crowd after every two or three hours, but no buses were allowed to enter Gabtali Bus terminal.
Some people were seen heading towards their destinations on rickshaws, vans while some others were seen walking from Gabtali to other destinations of the capital.
Leaders and workers of Awami League and its front organisations, took out rallies at different points from Kallyanpur, Technical, Gabtali, Mazar Road, Amin Bazar and Hemayetpur points with sticks to resist BNP marchers. No long-distance passenger buses moved out of the Gabtali bus terminal.
AL activists were seen to block different vehicles including private cars at Hemayetpur point and wanted to know their identities. They also searched each and every commuter those who were moving on foot.
The movement of light transports at Jatrabari were more than what was on Sunday though most of the buses and minibuses were not plying on the streets and no long distance bus moved out of the Saidabad terminal.
Members of law enforcing agencies also appeared to be relaxed as they passed the second day of 18-party’s March to Dhaka for Democracy programme as the opposition did not bring out any procession in the areas.
However, they were found searching transports and passengers at Jatrabari, Sanir Akhra, Signboard and Kanchpur areas.
The ruling party activists brought out separate processions at Jatrabari and its surrounding areas but they did not hold any rally over there like the previous day.
People from different walks of like particularly the office goers, garments workers and students had to face severe transport crisis and pay higher fares to travel by rickshaws and CNG-run auto rickshaws.
Police and RAB personnel set up several check posts at the entry point Abdullahpur-Tongi on the second day of the March for Democracy programme. People were body searched along with identity card and asked the reason to enter the capital.
If the reply of the people satisfied the law enforcers, they were allowed to enter into the city. Otherwise, if the law enforcers found anybody suspicious, the person was detained to interrogate.
A few buses were allowed to enter the city through the entry point.
Salauddin, inspector of Dakkinkhan police station said, “the check posts were set up to search people and vehicle so that none can create any subversive activities centering the Opposition’s March for Democracy programme.”
In Bhola, the local 18-party alliance called dawn-to-dusk hartal on Tuesday protesting the confinement of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and arrest of BNP vice-president Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin.
The Rangpur district BNP also called dawn-to-dusk hartal on Tuesday protesting the visit of prime minister Sheikh Hasina to Pirganj upazila for election campagn and demanding withdrawal of cases against BNP leaders and workers.
In Gaibandha, the 18-party alliance men vandalised at least 10 vehicles in separate attacks on Rangpur-Dhaka highway since morning during the sit-in progarmme. Police detained seven people in this connection.
Witnesses said the alliance leaders and activists took position at Janata Bank intersection to Uttar bus stand on Dhaka-Rangpur highway since morning and vandalised 10 vehicles. Then police and alliance activists locked in a chase and counter chase. Police detained seven people from the spot.
In Chuadanga, the 18-party alliance sit-in programme was foiled when police obstructed their procession at around 11am. Witnesses said when the local BNP brought out a procession from district party office and reached Shahid Hasan Chattar area, police obstructed them and locked in a scuffle. When they again try to take position in front of the party office, police dispersed them.
Our Correspondent from Bogra reports BNP led 18-party activists vandalised some trucks in several areas and burns a truck at Nischintapur area on second by-pass road in the town in morning.
The 18-party alliance also brought out procession as part of the sit-in programme in Joypurhat, Kurigram and Sunamganj as part of the central programme.
In Chandpur, the 18-party alliance set fire to a jeep of water development board at Ghosherhat area under Sadar upazila and vandalised 18 vehicles on Chandpur-Comilla highway on Monday.
In Munshiganj, BNP activists vandalised five vehicles including CNG-run auto rickshaws near the Muktarpur bridge on the outskirt of the town at around 1:15pm.
Besides BNP leaders and workers locked in a scuffle with police at the Ferighat area, leaving five people, including upazila BNP president Mohammad Mohiuddin injured.
In Gazipur, Jatiyatabadi Anijibi Forum brought out a process and held a rally protesting the attack on the pro-BNP lawyers at the Supreme Court on Sunday.
The pro-BNP lawyers brought out the procession in front of the district Ainjibi Jamity at around 1pm and marched different streets and ended through a rally. – Staff Reporter
