Arson, vandalism mark 8th day of blockade

The 8th day of the countrywide indefinite transport blockade, enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance, was marked by killing, arson attack, vandalism and detention in the capital and elsewhere of the country on Tuesday.

Reports of clashes, torching of vehicles, bomb blasts and detention of opposition leaders were reported from various districts of the country, including Dhaka, Chittagong, Gazipur, Netrokona, Mymensingh, Bagerhaat, Sylhet, Comilla, Narayanganj, Chuadanga and Brahmanbaria.

The blockaders set fire to three vehicles at Motijheel and Dhanmondi in the capital.

Talking to the FE, officer-in-charge of Motijheel Police Station Forman Ali said pickets exploded two petrol bombs in front of Janata Bank at the capital's commercial hub at about 5:00pm.

A taxicab was also torched in the attack. But no one was hurt. Three people were picked up for their alleged involvement with the attack, he added.

Four handmade bombs were hurled near a programme on Salimullah Medical College premises in the afternoon, where Health Minister Mohammad Nasim was present as the chief guest. However, the minister remained unhurt in the explosion.

Earlier in the morning, five crude bombs were found from a toilet at the Arts Faculty building and Mokarram Bhaban of Dhaka University (DU) during the ceremony of the institution's 49th convocation.

Students spotted four explosives inside a toilet on the ground floor of the Arts Faculty building, said Sirajul Islam, officer-in-charge of Shahbag Police Station.

Being informed, a team of bomb disposal unit of Detective Branch (DB) rushed to the spot and recovered the bombs, the police officer said.

A leguna, a three-wheeler passenger vehicle, was set on fire at Dhanmondi Road no. 27 intersection of Satmasjid Road at around 8:30am by blockaders, who marched towards Dhanmondi Road no. 15 from Mohammadpur Bus-stand, said sub-inspector of Dhanmondi Police Station Md Masum.

A bus was torched and several others were damaged in separate incidents in the port-city of Chittagong while a book-laden truck was set ablaze in Chandpur.

UNB adds: A man was killed and two others were injured as a truck fell into a ditch after pickets set it on fire with petrol bombs on Dhaka-Chittagong highway at Mirsarai in Chittagong Tuesday morning.

The deceased was identified Enam Hossain, 40, son of Nurer Safa of Samdarpara village in Satkania upazila.

Sumon Chandra Sheel, who was injured in the accident, said a group of blockaders hurled two petrol bombs at the Chittagong-bound truck carrying cement from Feni at BSRM Gate around 8:30am.

As the driver desperately tried to escape the arson attack, he drove the truck fast. However, it skidded off the road and plunged into the ditch, he said.

Enam and Sumon who were travelling on the truck and truck helper Morshed were injured in the incident.

The injured were whisked off to Mirsarai Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared Enam dead.

Sub-inspector Nazmul Hasan of Jorarganj police station confirmed the incident, saying that Enam suffered burn injuries in his face.

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