Opposition's 48-hour blockade underway: 4 dead
A local Jubo League leader, a vegetable trader, a pedestrian and a rickshawpuller were killed in Satkhira, Barisal, Sirajganj and Comilla when opposition activists clashed with law enforcers to enforce a countrywide 48-hour road, rail and waterway blockade.
At least 55 people were reported injured as violence marked the start of the blockade programme designed to protest the announcement of the schedule of the 10th parliamentary election without installing a non-party government.
Dhaka
Blockade supporters torched a police officer's motorbike in Uttara on Tuesday during the countrywide blockade. Two ATM booths have been damaged also in the area.
Uttara Police Station's inspector (Patrol) Aminul Haque said that opposition supporters tried to set fire on a rail track around 11am.
They attacked Dakhsin Khan Police Station's Inspector Md Kaykobad Kazi and set fire to his motor bike.
Police later arrested one Mintu, 35, hailing from Bhola, from the spot.
Earlier at around 10am, two ATM booths were damaged at shopping mall in Dakshin Khan.
Satkhira
In Satkhira, a Juba League leader was beaten to death by Jamaat-shibir men at Alipur under Kalaroa Upazila Tuesday. The deceased was named as Mahbubur Rahman Babu (35), secretary of Deara Union Juba League.
Jamaat-shibir men assaulted Babu at around 11.00am while he was going to his shop at Kalaroa by bike. Babu was admitted immediately to Kalaroa Hospitals. Later, he was shifted to Satkhira Sadar Hospitals where he died at 12.45am.
Babu was son of Golam Rahman Moral of Chhalimpur Village.
Sirajganj
A person was killed as the blockade supporters engaged in clash with law enforcers in Jogair crossing area of sadar upazila Tuesday morning.
The deceased Sakman Hossain, 30, was a mason. Habibul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sirajganj sadar police station, confirmed the media about the death.
Witnesses said the members of police obstructed the opposition activists when they blockaded road in Jogair crossing area around 8:30.
Meanwhile, the blockade supporters engaged in clash with the law enforcers as police held district BNP Organising Secretary Nur Kayem Sabuj.
Police fired tear shells to disperse the activists leaving passersby Sakman injured. He was rushed to Sirajganj sadar hospital where duty doctor declared him dead.
Comilla
In Comilla, one person was killed in BNP-police fight in Bypass area under Lakhsum Upazila on Tuesday morning. The victim was identified as Babul Mia, a rickshaw puller by trade.
Barishal
A vegetable vendor namely Rafiqul Islam, who was hit by a piece of brick thrown by pickets from a procession Monday night, died at Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College in the morning.
Rajshahi
At least 10 people were injured, including two by bullets, during a clash with the opposition men and police at Rajarhat in the city around 7:30am. Bullet-hit Shafiqul Haque Milon, secretary general of the city unit BNP, and Isahak, 24, a local cricket player, went under the knives at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
Milon was hit by bullets in his head and Isahak in his left eye. Being resisted by police, the 18-party activists locked into a clash with the law enforcers, forcing them to lob several teargas canisters and fired bullets from shotguns, he said.
Milon was present in the procession but Isahak came in the line of fire while crossing a road near the Rajarhat Government City College, the OC said.
Meanwhile, a trucker and his helper were injured as his vehicle plunged into a roadside ditch when the truck came under the attack of opposition men at Dewanpara around 5:00am.
Khulna
In Khulna, Five people were injured, two by bullets, in a clash between police and BNP men in powerhouse intersection of the metropolis at around 8:15am.
Chittagong
In Chittagong, police held two persons from a pro-hartal procession of BNP leaders-activists in Almas intersection at around 7:45am.
In Narayanganj, law enforcers detained five people including district BNP office secretary Akter Hossain.
Gazipur
The opposition men vandalised a police van during a clash with law enforcers in Kaliganj upazila headquarters around 8:00am, said Mazharul Islam, a sub-inspector of Kaliganj Police Station.
The blockade supporters also blasted two crude bombs during the clash, the SI said.
Police fired several rounds of teargas canisters to disperse the activists and also picked up four opposition men from the scene.
The unruly activists also torched a bus on Dhaka-Tangail Highway at Chandra area of Kaliakoir upazila around 10:00am.
Dinajpur
BNP-Jamaat men vandalised at least 15 vehicles in Dinajpur town, Birganj upazila and Ranirbandar area of Chirirbandar upazila since last night.
They also set fire to a motorbike in the town
Joypurhat
The demonstrators exploded three crude bombs at Batamor area in the town around 8.20pm last night, leaving three persons including a police constable injured.
Constable Dulu Mia was rushed to Rangpur Medical College Hospital while two others at Joypurhat Modern Hospital.
Patuakhai
Ten opposition men received minor injuries when law enforcers charged batons on the opposition men in a clash on Patuakhali-Barisal highway at Telikhari in Patuakhai Sadar upazila.
Background
The blockade started from 6:00am Tuesday (November 26) and will continue to 6:00am Thursday.
Roads, waterways and railway remained under the blockade programme.
Acting secretary of opposition BNP Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the blockade at a press conference on Monday night immediately after chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed announced the election schedule.
The spokesperson for the party also said the opposition parties rejected the polls schedule and asked to postpone it soon for the sake of competitive elections.
Additional law enforcers along with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel were deployed around the country to thwart further sabotage.
Pre-blockade violence
18-party leaders and supporters started sabotage immediately after the announcement of the blockade by Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
A Chhatra Dal activist was killed and 17 others including police were injured in a clash between BNP-Jamaat-Shibir and law enforcers in Monoharpur area of Comilla Sadar at around 8:30pm Monday.
Police fired 70 rounds of rubber bullets and 60 rounds of teargas shells to bring the situation under control. In Mymensingh, miscreants blasted two cocktails in front of the residence oof poll-time government's health minister Rawshon Ershad, also senior presidium member of Jatiya Party.
In Habiganj, BNP men-police locked into an hour-long sporadic clash in the district town from 8:00pm, leaving 30, including 10 police, injured.
In Narayanganj, at least 10 buses were vandalized in various areas of the town on Monday night.
In Thakurgaon, 18-party activists vandalized shops, blazed trucks and blasted five petrol bombs.
Meanwhile, 15 persons, including journalists and police, were injured in a clash at the Thakurgaon government high school ground.
In Barguna, at least 20 people were injured in a clash between law enforcers and 18-party activist after the announcement of polls-schedule by CEC.
In Noakhali, at least 25 people were injured in a triangular clash between police, Awmai League and 18-party activists in Chowmuhani Bazar area under Begumganj Upazila of the district immediately after the announcement of election schedule.
Source: Banglanews, Dhaka Tribune, UNB
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