At least 30 long-distance buses, plying with police protection, were vandalized by blockade supporters in different districts on Saturday.
These buses had left the inter-district bus terminals in the capital ahead of the fifth-phase of countrywide blockade enforced by BNP-led 18-party alliance. The opposition alliance is enforcing the latest phase of 83-hour blockade starting from 6am Saturday. Our Bogra correspondent reported that activists of BNP led 18-party alliance vandalised at least 12 long-route buses at Shahjahanpur upazila in the district, while 16 more buses were vandalised at Moheshpur and Dreamland areas of Gaibandha.
Opposition activists also vandalised and torched at least four buses at noon at Jundaha intersection on the Dhaka-Rangpur Highway.
Earlier on Friday night, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, and Kurigram bound buses left Dhaka with police protection.
When inquired about the attacks on vehicles despite having police protection, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan told Independent that two to three incidents were reported and they ‘were not major incidents’. He said the government is going to take preventive measures in the troubled areas. “The government will provide proper compensation to the affected bus owners,” Shahjahan said.
He further said that buses were also plying on the Dhaka-Tangail, Dhaka-Mymensingh, Dhaka-Rangpur, Dhaka-Mawa, and Dhaka-Madaripur routes with police protection.
Meanwhile, a meeting is scheduled to be held at the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) premises in the capital on Sunday to discuss a large-scale movement of buses during the blockade periods.
Communications Minister Obaidul Quader, Railway Minister Mujibul Huq and other senior officials of the law enforcing agencies are expected to attend the meeting.
-With The Independent input
