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Blockade Goes on

Hartal in 4 dists till polls day

Star Report
Vehicular movement on the capital’s thoroughfares was almost normal yesterday, the second day of the non-stop blockade sponsored by the BNP-led 18-party combine, though long-distance buses did not leave from the city or come to it.
Stray incidents, however, marked the indefinite blockade elsewhere over the demand for the cancellation of the January 5 polls. The blockaders went on the rampage at least in three districts, injuring no fewer than 40 persons.
The 18-party called a 48-hour hartal starting tomorrow morning in Chittagong, Sylhet, Jhenidah and Bogra, protesting the confinement of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and the cancellation of the January 5 polls.
Two crude bombs were blasted near the BNP chiefs Gulshan residence last evening.
Unknown miscreants torched three buses yesterday evening in the capital's Abdullahpur, Dilkusha and Sankharibazar. They also exploded crude bombs in different parts of the city. No casualties were reported.
Though launches set off for their respective destinations from Sadarghat launch terminal, the number of passengers was thin compared to Wednesday, Abul Aziz, in-charge of Sadarghat terminal outpost, said last night.
Passengers at the Kamalapur Railway Station were present as usual. But the train schedule was disrupted as trains ran slower than the
normal speed due to the blockade, railway sources said.
In Chittagong, the blockade passed off almost peacefully as no untoward incident was reported in the 14 upazilas yesterday, reports our bureau office in the district.
However, Jamaat-Shibir men allegedly torched a passenger bus in the city's BRTC area around 6:30pm, said Mohiuddin Selim, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kotwali Police Station, adding that none was hurt.
Fire service sources said fire fighters of Nandankanan Fire Station extinguished the fire around 7:30pm. The damage caused by the fire was estimated atTk 2 lakh.
Zakir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Bara Awlia Highway Police Station, said vehicular movement on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway was very thin.
Police escorted 20 covered vans to and from Chittagong.
Meanwhile, the opposition has called a 48-hour hartal in the district tomorrow.
In Bogra, at least 10 people, including two police personnel, were injured in a triangular clash involving Awami League and BNP activists and law-enforcers at Sonatola upazila.
The clash erupted at Balurhaat Bazar when the opposition and the ruling party brought out separate processions for and against the blockade. Police intervened to disperse them.
The local BNP also called a 48-hour hartal in the district tomorrow.
The BNP also called a 48-hour hartal in Sylhet and Jhenidah tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the second day of the blockade
was marked by vandalism and burning of tyres on road and rail tracks in Natore.
The blockaders created impediments on the Natore-Rajshahi road by burning tyres. They also vandalised a potato-laden truck in Digpatia area, leaving potato trader Mofazzal Hossain injured.
The blockaders also set fire to an autorickshaw in Station Bazar area.
The joint forces in several raids detained at least seven leaders and activists of the BNP, and Shibir, student wing of the Jamaat, from different areas, reports our district correspondent.
In Moulvibazar, at least 20 people were injured in a clash between police and the 18-party supporters at Bhuai of Juri upazila yesterday evening. The injured were admitted to different local hospitals.
Md Mahbubur Rahman, OC of Juri Police Station, said police fired teargas canisters to bring the situation under control.
Police detained five people while picketing in the area. Joint forces were deployed to avoid any untoward incident.
In Dinajpur, at least 20 people were injured in a clash between 18-party men and joint forces in Birganj upazila yesterday evening.
On the way to Thakurgaon and Panchagarh for electoral duties, three vans of industrial police came under attack by pickets at Kabirajhat on Dinajpur-Panchagarh highway that triggered a clash between the two sides.
Demanding the cancellation of the January 5 polls, the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance has enforced a nationwide blockade of roads, rail and waterways for 22 days in phases since November 26.