Blockade as clashes claim four lives

Four people were killed and over 400 injured on Monday as clashes broke out across the country over programmes and counter-programmes of the ruling and opposition parties marking the first anniversary of the January-5 national election, report agencies.

The killings took place in three districts-Natore, Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj-while the police barred BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia from stepping out of her Gulshan office in the capital city to join a rally planned earlier.

The developments throughout the day prompted the BNP to announce blockade of roads, railways and waterways across the country for an indefinite period and call daylong hartal in Natore and Rajshahi districts for today (Tuesday).

Rakib and Raihan Hossain Rana-two activists of pro-BNP Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD)-were shot dead and 15 others injured during a clash with Awami League workers at Tebaria in Natore district town in the morning.

Besides, Mazid Uddin (45), an activist of Solua union unit of BNP in Charghat upazila of Rajshahi district, was killed as police opened fire on a procession of the BNP-led 20-party alliance at Baneshwar in the upazila on Monday afternoon.

In Chapainawabganj, another  BNP man was killed and 14 people were injured as law enforcers opened fire on a procession of the BNP-led 20-party alliance at Kansat Bazar in Shibganj upazila in the afternoon.

The deceased was identified as Jamsed Ali (40), an activist of local BNP and son of Mantaj Ali of Shibnagar village in the upazila.

In the capital clashes broke out between police and opposition activists. Five vehicles were torched in different areas in the city.

Clashes spread from Bhatara's Kuril Bishwa Road to Jamuna Future Park starting from around 11:15am Monday.

The BNP and Jamaat activists were preparing to take out a procession when police intervened. That sparked the clash, said Bhatara police Inspector Md Abu Bakar Mia.

A Brac Bank ATM booth was vandalised and Islami Chhatra Shibir activists set fire to a van.

ATM booth security guard 'Nadim' said 10 to 12 people hurled stones at the booth from a procession.

A service receiver at the ATM booth was hurt during the violence.

Police fired in the air to disperse the trouble makers, said Nadim.

When police tried to disperse agitating BNP-Jamaat activists, they hurled several hand-made bombs.

Amid rising tension over the first anniversary of the contentious Jan 5 parliamentary election, less and less people have come out on the streets of the capital.

Police have banned all kinds of processions, meetings and gatherings in Dhaka since Sunday afternoon after the Awami League and the BNP announced plans for celebrations and protests for Monday.

Reports of clashes have come in from Sirajganj, Narayanganj Cox's Bazar, Noakhali, Brahmanbaria, Sunamganj and other places.

Miscreants set an Awami League office ablaze at Siddikbazar in the city around 5:15 am.

Police recovered 20 Molotov cocktails (petrol bombs) from a house in the city's Shamibagh area in the morning.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested former ward  councillor of Dhaka City Corporation and Lalbagh thana BNP leader Hazi Altaf Hossain along with 20 crude bombs from Lalbagh area  in the morning.

In Chittagong, at least 30 people, including some cops and reporters, were injured in a clash between 20-party activists and police on the Nur Ahmed Road.

In Narayanganj, at least 20 people, including 10 with bullets, were injured in a clash between the activists of BNP and police in Bandar upazila in the morning.

In Satkhira, police arrested 50 BNP and Jamaat-Shibir activists from different parts of the district.

In Comilla, police during an overnight drives in different parts of the district arrested 21 activists of BNP and Jamaat-Shibir.

In Bhola, at least 30 people were injured in sporadic clashes among BNP, Awami League and police in different parts of the district throughout the day.

Yakub Shah Jewel, 28, a local leader of Swechchashebak Dal, received bullet injuries during the incident.

Several vehicles were vandalised and a number of crude bombs were  blasted at Bangla School intersection in the morning.

In Pabna, at least 15 people were injured in a clash between the activists of Awami League and BNP at Indara Patti intersection in the city. At least 10-12 crude bombs were exploded and five vehicles vandalised during the incident.

In Khagrachhari, at least 15 people were injured in a triangular clash involving BNP, Awami League and police in different parts of the district town.