Shipping minister Shajahan Khan on Monday said inter-district buses on all routes will be given police protection from Tuesday. The minister’s statement followed reports of vandalism and arson against state-run BRTC buses in Noakhali, Brahmanbaria and Bogra on the third day of the 83-hour transport blockade enforced by the BNP-led opposition alliance. Private vehicles were also torched and vandalised in Sirajganj and Dhaka. Also on Monday, 74 people were injured in violence in different parts of the country. While 14 were injured in Jhenaidaha, 60 cases were reported from the six districts of Mymensingh, Gaibandha, Bogra, Gazipur, Natore and Noakhali.
Moreover, 56 activists of the 18-party Alliance were arrested in Jamalpur, Dinajpur, Gaibandha, Chandpur, Moulvibazar and Gazipur districts in drives by joint forces during the blockade. The Opposition alliance enforced the blockade to demand postponement of the 10th parliamentary election and holding of poll under a non-party administration. The blockade started at 6 am on Saturday and will continue till 5 pm on Tuesday.
Following the announcement of the election schedule, the 18-party Alliance has enforced 418 hours of road-rail-waterway blockades across the country in four spells –71 hours, 131 hours, 144 hours and 72 hours. As many as 78 people were killed in violence during the blockades.
On Monday, at least 20 bombs exploded in different areas of Dhaka and law enforcers detained eight persons in connection with subversive activities.
Seven bombs exploded in Dhaka University, Middle Badda and Kantaban areas of the city in the morning.
Two blasts took place at the gate of the district and sessions judge’s court in the city around 12.15 pm. Later, a woman was injured as two more bombs went off in the same area around 3 pm. Police detained a man in this connection. Another man was detained after four bombs exploded at Gabtali in the morning.
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel detained a man with eight bombs and other materials, including a laptop, a mobile set and modem from the Hatirjheel area.
Jamaat-Shibir activists brought out processions in different areas, including Dhalpur, Bangshal, Shanirakhra, Badda, Azampur and Khilkhet, leaving nine Shibir men injured in clashes with law enforcers. Police also detained six Shibir activists.
Police chased away protesters as they tried to bring out a procession in the Sadarghat area around 5.50 am.
Miscreants torched a mini-bus on the west side of Bangabhaban around 5 pm. However, no one was injured.
Notwithstanding the violence, vehicular movement on city streets was almost normal in the morning. Several vehicles also plied on different highways. Law enforcers kept strict vigil in important areas to fend off any untoward incident.
In Bogra, BNP and Jamaat activists brought out a procession at the Matidali Biman intersection in Sadar upazila in the morning.
Several vehicles were vandalised by blockade supporters near Gokul on the Bogra-Rangpur Highway in Sadar upazila at 11 pm on Sunday.
In an overnight drive, joint forces arrested four activists of the 18-party Alliance from different places of Gurudaspur and Sadar upazilas.
Miscreants set fire to two buses at the BRTC bus depot near Shatmatha at 10 am. Witnesses said when the bus came out of the depot to proceed towards Joypurhat, a group of miscreants blasted five bombs, creating panic in the area. The miscreants then torched the buses and left the scene. Later, police and others doused the fire.
-With The Independent input
