At least seven people were killed and over 300 others injured as the
BNP-led 18-party alliance supporters clashed with law enforcers and
ruling alliance activists across the country on the second day of the
48-hour blockade programme on Tuesday.
The blockade programme which begun on Tuesday has further been
extended by 12 hours until 6pm Thursday, protesting the killings of
its activists and government oppression.
The blockade programme which has nearly crippled the public transport
services including rail across the country caused immense sufferings
to the commuters.
The opposition alliance is enforcing the nationwide rail-road-waterway
blockade programme to protest the announcement of the schedule for the
10th parliamentary election and to push for their demand to hold the
next general election under a non-party government.
The railway authorities suspended all train schedules to the Northern
region from Dhaka considering the possible damage to the lives and
properties.
Blockaders removed fish plates on the rail tracks in Lalmonirhat
district, leading to the suspension of rail communication with other
northern districts.
Train service in Rajbari – Bhatiyapara rail route remain suspended as
blockaders set fire to a rail coach during siege programme.
The train services were also suspended when activists set fire to the
rail tracks at Sitakunda and Pahartoli areas, causing immense
sufferings of the commuters.
Meanwhile, the rail authorities through SMS messages urged the people
to help protect the rail properties.
Our Staff Correspondent from Sirajganj reports that at least two
persons were killed and 50 others injured, while BNP and
Jama’at-Shibir men locked in a fierce clash with police and Awami
League men at Mukundagati Baza’ar area in Belkuchi upazila of the
district in the morning.
The deceased were identified as Masum Billah, 28, General Secretary of
Dhukuria Bera union’s ward No-3, also son of Shamsul Alam Sarker of
Chandmituani village and Abdul Zalil, 55, Rokon Candidate for Jama’at
Islami Bangladesh, Belkuchi upazila unit, also son of Riaz Uddin Fakir
of Dhukuria Bera village in the same upazila.
In Dhaka, A female bank employee succumbed to her injuries sustained
bomb explosions on the first day of the BNP led opposition backed 48
hours blockade.
Mozammel Haque of the DMCH police camp said, Anwara Begum, 45, died
around 5 am on Wednesday at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
She was critically injured when a bomb exploded at Khilgaon on Tuesday
afternoon while she was returning home from work.
In Satkhira, an activist of Jamaat-e-Islami was shot dead and several
others injured in a clash with law enforces at Shealdanga village in
Sadar upazila.
The deceased identified as Shamsur Rahman,35, son of Abdul Majid, a
resident of the village, was a mason by profession.
A woman, named Ambia Khatun, 30, was killed when a tree fell on her
while the Shibir activists were cutting the tree for blockading the
street at the Kolaroa upazila.
Satkhira district unit Jamaat ameer Abdul Khalek Mandal called a
half-day hartal for Thursday in the district protesting the killing of
Shamsur Rahman.
In Chittagong, a man was killed when a human-hauler overturned after
being chased by blockaders on Chittagong-Anwara road at Fakirhat in
Patia upazila in the afternoon. The deceased was identified as Ershad
Ali, 25 of the upazila.
Witnesses said the blockaders chased the human-hauler, tempo, at
Fakirnirhat area.
As the driver tried to flee the scene hurriedly to evade possible
vandalism, his vehicle turned turtle on the road, leaving the driver
injured. He was rushed to Chittagong Medical College Hospital where
doctors declared him dead.
Our Gazipur Correspondent reports that an Awami league leader and
union parishad member was killed in a clash between BNP and AL at
Dolon Bazar area under Kaligonj upazila of Gazipur district on
Wednesday noon during blockade programme.
The deceased was identified as Kamal Hossain, 40, a local Awami League
leader and member of Jamalpur Union parishad.
At least 10 people were injured and Union Chhatra League President
Junayed was sent Dhaka medical college hospital for treatment.
Soon after the death of Kamal Hosain, local AL supporter vandalized 10
shops and set fire on 10 business establishments. Fire fighters doused
the fire later.
In the capital, at least 25 people were injured, 10 vehicles were
torched and several crude bombs were exploded as opposition supporters
clashed with law enforcers at different places.
At least 20 people were injured as the blockaders clashed with law
enforcers blocking Dhaka-Aricha highway at Phulbaria in Savar, on the
outskirts of the capital.
The 18-party alliance activists set fire to thee private cars at
Ashkona in Uttara, a pickup van at Naya Bazar in Old Dhaka and a
CNG-run auto-rickshaw in Kalshi of Mirpur.
Law enforcers also detained four pro-blockade activists with four
crude bombs from Kalshi in Mirpur.
The incidents of blasting crude bombs were reported from Mahakhali,
Mogbazar, Gabtoli, Mirpur and Ashkona in Uttara.
The blockaders exploded eight crude bombs at different points of
Gabtoli in a span of 15 minutes from 6:15am.
Police detained two Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activists -Tejgaon
industrial area unit JCD president Sakhawat Hossain Saikat and
activist Ashraful Alam- from under the flyover in Tejgaon industrial
area in the morning. Earlier, two crude bombs were exploded in the
area.
Chhatra Shibir activists tried to blockade rail line and blasted at
least 14-15 crude bombs beside rail line in Doyaganj at about 8:30am.
Later, police brought the situation under control by firing 25-30
rubber bullets.
Police also detained two young men – Sabuj, 17, and Sajib 18 – from
behind the Election Commission Secretariat in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area
at about 9:45am after two bombs were exploded in the area.
No long route bus left the city bus terminals while fewer buses plied
on the city streets, causing sufferings to the city commuters.
Incidents of violence were also reported in different districts during
the blockade programme.
In Rajshahi, around 20 opposition men including the city Mayor
Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul sustained rubber bullet injuries during the
clash, said Abur Zafar Tutu, personal secretary to the mayor. Mayor
Bulbul was admitted to a city clinic, Tutu added.
Witnesses said BNP led 18-party alliance brought out a procession from
near the Government Women College in the city around 7:30am.
As they were demonstrating sitting near the Rajshahi Government
College road, law enforcers opened fire from an armoured personnel
carrier to disperse the agitators.
Law enforcers fired around 100 rounds of rubber bullets and over 50
tear shell canisters as the blockade supporters launched crude bombs
targeting law enforcers that left three of the policemen hurt, said
Ziaur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Boalia Police Station.
Police detained 12 activists of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and its student
wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir from the spot, the OC added.
In Chittagong, At least 50 people including 3 police members are
injured from several clashes in the port-city Chittagong during
blockade.
A procession of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal clashed with the police at
Nimtola on Wednesday Morning. Ten people were hurt by police fire. At
least twenty people were injured in that clash.
Police detained 10 political activists of BNP including Zahidul Alam,
president of Chittagong ward -36.
The blockaders also vandalized and set fire on vehicles at
Bahaddarhat, Cornel Hat and WASA Square of the port city. One of the
victims received severe injury at Cornel Hat.
At least twenty got hurt in another clash between blockade supporters
and law enforcers at Alankarmore area.
In Narsingdhi, at least 15 people were injured in a clash between law
enforcers and blockaders in the town.
In Natore, at least 10 persons were injured in a clash between local
BNP and Awami League activists during the blockade programme at
Boraigram Upazila. Police detained seven local BNP activists from the
spot.
In Jessore, during the blockade programme at least 15 people were
injured including two police constables at the Kuada Bazar of
Jessore-Satkhira road.
In Habiganj, clashes erupted between police, blockaders and local
Awami League activists in Nabiganj upazila and Shayestaganj, leaving
at least 10 people injured.
In Manikganj, the clash between police and local BNP leaders and
activists left 20 people, including five police men, injured in the
town in the morning.
The incidents of violence were also reported in different parts of the
districts including Khulan, Sylhet, Narayanganj, Chapainawabganj,
Comilla, Netrakona, Jhenidah, Kurigram and Savar, left 100 persons
injured. – Staff Reporter
