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Bus, launch service stalled

Arrests ahead of rally

Star Report
Bus and launch services between Dhaka and different districts remained suspended yesterday on the eve of the opposition's grand rally in the capital.
Thousands of Dhaka-bound passengers, especially in the northern and southern districts, suffered because of disruption to transport operations allegedly by progovernment workers.
In Barisal, people waited for hours at bus stations and launch terminals, as owners kept their vehicles and vessels
off the roads and waterways, citing security concerns.
Our correspondent in Chittagong reports: Police arrested 160 people in the port city in the early hours yesterday.
Jamaat-e-Islami Bakshirhat ward unit presi-dent Abdul Mabud, Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal leader Mohammad Rustam and BNP activist Abul Hossain were among those arrested.
AKM Mohiuddin Selim, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, said some of the arrestees were accused of attacking police and vandalising vehicles on May 13.
Tanvir Arafat, assistant commissioner (detective branch) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, said at least 73 people were arrested in cases linked to drug peddling, murder, robbery, mugging and prostitution in the port city.
Nazmul Hasan, additional superintendent of police in Chittagong (south), told The Daily Star that such drives are carried out almost every month and they are meant to maintain law and order.
A BNP leader in Kotwali area, Shamsul Alam, however, alleged that the police had been conducting mass arrests to foil the grand rally in Dhaka.
Our correspondent in Barisal reports: Thousands of people were stuck in bus stations and launch terminals due to disruption to Dhaka-bound water and road transport services.
Saidur Rahman Rintu, vice-president of Barisal Launch Owners' Association, said, “We are just following the orders from the port authority. If they allow, we will resume our service.”
Lokman Hussein, river traffic inspector in Barisal, however, said he did not know of any restrictions imposed on the plying of passenger vessels on Barisal-Dhaka route.
Meanwhile, Alamgir Hossain, president of Barisal Bus Owners' Association, said all counters of Dhaka-bound buses were closed yesterday afternoon on orders from the owners "worried about safety of the passengers and vehicles”.
Mojibor Rahman Sarwar, city BNP president and lawmaker, alleged that the ruling party had been using the government machinery to prevent people from joining the grand rally in the capital.
A correspondent in Bogra reports: Bus counters stopped selling tickets in Bogra and other northern districts yesterday afternoon, leaving hundreds of passengers at bay.
Bogra Inter-DistrictTruck Workers' Union President Abdul Mannan said he had received a call from an unknown number asking him not to operate any bus to Dhaka. The caller said it was an order from the central bus owners' association.
Shahdat Hossain Jhantu, manager of SR Travels, said local transport workers' union had also asked them to stop operating buses to Dhaka.
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