Bangladesh News

Spontaneity and festivity were evident on the streets of Dhaka as people’s participation in and support for the blockade increased further yesterday when the whole country reeled under the road-rail-waterways blockade enforced by the 14-party combine.

Although enforcers of the blockade on the second day after its resumption on Monday were peaceful, the BNP-led four-party alliance loyalists clashed with police in Bogra, leaving 50 injured and attacked Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists in Chittagong that left 15 wounded.

However, with the sign of ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ as seen by CG Adviser Mahbubul Alam, leaders of the 14-party boosted the morale of their men by infusing festivity into the demonstration. The activists, who increased in number day by day, were found singing parody and burning the effigy of Chief Election Commissioner MA Aziz at all the blockade points.

The number of motorised vehicles on the streets increased with the passage of time as people had a feeling that there would be no violence. Train service was disrupted in several areas of the country.

Activities at the land ports were hampered.

Despite the political turmoil, share prices in Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) recorded significant gains yesterday.

“We’re waiting for victory,” was what the blockade enforcers and common people were heard saying at different blockade points in Dhaka. They mainly implied reconstitution of the EC, which they think is a precondition for holding a free and fair election.

The Awami League (AL) led 14-party joined by Jatiya Oikya Front comprising Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Jatiya Oikya Mancha and Bangladesh Tariqat Federation, resumed the blockade demanding EC reconstitution as the third deadline for President and Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed to meet its 11-point demand ended on Sunday.

THE CAPITAL
With the daybreak, blockade enforcers took position at different intersections in the capital to block vehicular movement. They also set up makeshift podiums on trucks at many places and on streets at other places.

Folk singers were rendering parody during intervals of speeches by leaders. At some places, satires were read out to cheer up the gatherings.

Leaders of the 14-party and LDP delivered speeches throughout the day yesterday with intervals, assuring their supporters of an imminent victory. The participants were also seen dancing at almost every blockade point.

A good number of general people were seen at these points.

The participants chanted slogans at the top of their voice, especially while burning the effigy of the CEC. Some of them even kicked the effigies.

At Mirpur 10, Mirpur-1, Gabtoli, Shyamoli, Sukrabad, Russell Square and Paltan, singers rendered parody criticising the CEC. At some places, blockade rallies turned into election campaign rallies. The singers also y depicted the agony of people during the five-year rule of BNP-Jamaat alliance.

On the Supreme Court (SC) premises, the SC Bar Association (SCBA) leaders addressed a rally. Many lawyers rendered songs that once cheered up people during the Liberation War.

At Russell Square, pickets torched a private car whilew at Shyamoli, they vandalised a CNG-run autorickshaw.

At Amin Bazar ghat, a good number of fertiliser bags sent from Chittagong were seen piled up. Usually about 50 trucks carry fertiliser from here everyday.

In front of the BNP central office at Naya Paltan, a small rally of party men were held and there was a similar rally of Jamaat about 100 yards away.

The 14-party leaders held rallies at Bangabandhu Avenue, Zero Point and Muktangon throughout the day. Police yesterday removed the barricade they put up at the entrance to Muktangon. Jubo League later set up a stage.

Participants were in a jolly mood as they expected that the CEC would resign any time.

Vehicles except rickshaws, vans and emergency transports were not seen in atrabari-Sayedabad-Kanchpur areas on Dhaka-Chittagong highway.

Leaders and activists of 14-party and LDP took to the highway in processions.

Almost all the shops excepting some medicine and food stores remained closed during the blockade in Old Dhaka.

Pickets vandalised a passenger bus at Mirpur.

BOGRA VIOLENCE
While Islami Chhatra Shibir activists were marching in a procession to join a meeting of the four-party alliance at Satmatha in the town, some unidentified people threw a cocktail at them yesterday morning.

Agitated Shibir workers later attacked a 14-party gathering near the AL office, stormed into the office and ransacked furniture, accusing those present of throwing the cocktail.

Activists of both the rival combines tried to attack each other but failed to do so due to police barricade between the two sides.

Shibir activists, joined by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal workers, later threw cocktails on police to clear the barricade, prompting police to fire teargas shells and rubber bullets.

Police said at least 50 cocktails were blasted at Satmatha and adjoining areas during the two-hour clash that left 50 injured,

Including three journalists.

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and additional police force were deployed at important points of the town to prevent further clash.

Eight of the injured including Town unit Shibir Organising Secretary Shakawat Hossain and JCD Sadar Thana unit President Sarker Mukul were admitted to local Mohammad Ali Hospital.

CHITTAGONG
While BCL activists in 18 trucks were returning in a procession to Nimtala in Pahartali area at around 1:45pm, JCD and Shibir activists, who were holding a rally there then, pelted brickbats on the procession injuring some BCL activists.

The BCL activists later chased and attacked the JCD-Shibir workers and damaged the four-party’s podium, chairs and tables. Shibir leaders Jahid and Rakib were stabbed there. Later, BCL workers chased away JCD-Shibir men from the area.

Fifteen people were injured before police brought the situation under control.

President of Shibir Chittagong City South Unit Jahidul Islam and activist Raqibul Islam and JCD leader Afsaruddin were admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) with serious injuries.

BCL activists Wasimuddin, Iqbal Ahmed, Zakaria, Sabbir and Pavel Rahman were also injured.

Reports from different other districts said the blockade was observed peacefully.

GAZIPUR
15 people were injured in a clash between activists of four-party alliance and AL.

As some activists from a four-party procession were chanting offensive slogans while passing the AL district office in the evening, someone hurled a stone at the procession.

Numbers of four-party activists were angered by this act and they vandalised over a dozen plastic chairs stacked outside the AL office.

Supporters of the two groups locked in a clash and hurled brickbats at each other after the AL activists organised themselves and chased the four-party men.

Police took position between the two rivals in an attempt to defuse the tension but without any success.

Later riot police and Rapid Action Battalion joined to assist the police and dispersed the clashing activists by firing teargas shells.