More arson attacks, blasts mark 55th day of \\\'blockade\\\'

FE Report | Published: March 02, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

The ongoing nationwide blockade coupled with hartal (shutdown) enforced by the BNP-led 20-party Alliance crossed 55th day on Sunday with more arson attacks and blasts that left several people wounded.
On the first day of the latest spell of 72-hour-long hartal, nearly 200 people were detained from various parts of the country by the law enforcers on charges of involvement and assisting in the acts of sabotage.
In Dhaka, at least four vehicles were torched allegedly by the pro-blockade activists in Gulistan, Jatrabari and Dhanmondi areas of the capital while reports of crude blasts were reported in Mirpur, Khilgaon and Sher-e-Banglanagar areas.
Unknown miscreants set ablaze two buses, which were parked at the Fulbaria Bus Terminal in the capital's Gulistan area, by throwing petrol bombs at about 9:15am while another arson attack was simultaneously launched on a BRTC bus at Rayerbagh of Jatrabari.
A microbus was also torched allegedly by the pickets at Dhanmondi at noon.
However, no one was hurt and arrested in those arson attacks.
According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), a total of 11 men were arrested for their alleged involvement with the acts of sabotage from various parts of the capital over the last 24 hours until 9:00am.
In Joypurhat, a transport worker was burnt when two parked buses were torched inside the bus terminal of the district during the strike hours. He later died at hospital.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Akkelpur Police Station Abul Kalam Azad said the incident took place in the early morning as a group of arsonists set fire to the vehicle that left the bus helper Ratan Mia (22) who was sleeping there.
In Habiganj, at least three people including a woman and her daughter suffered burn injuries as miscreants firebombed a commuter train at Shahjibazar Railway Station in Madhabpur Upazila of the district last night.
Of the injured, Maya Begum (45), wife of Kesli Miah, and her daughter Amena Begum (22), of Eralia village in Habiganj Sadar upazila were rushed to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.
Another victim Madhab Rodrapaul, 30, of Harashpur village in Madhabpur was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Police detained six people for their alleged involvement with the firebomb attack, according to the law enforcers.
In Faridpur, members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in a drive detained a youth with 25 petrol bombs from the district town in the early morning. Habibur Rahman alias Suman (19) was engaged in making and supplying petrol bombs as told by local police.
On the day, highest number of arrests was made in Satkhira (77) followed by Jessore (59) and Rangpur (59).
UNB adds: Miscreants set three vehicles, including a truck, a pickup van and a human hauler, afire on the Laxmipur-Kamalnagar road in Kamalnagar upazila headquarters of Laxmipur district in the afternoon.
In Rajshahi, hartal supporters torched two buses of 'Hanif Paribahan' by hurling petrol bombs at the Shirail bus terminal of the city around 6am.
Besides, Rinku, a BNP activist received bullet injuries as police opened fire on him while he was trying to flee after hurling petrol bombs at two buses at the terminal in the morning.
In Bogra, hartal supporters vandalised a private car and several CNG-run auto-rickshaws at Mofiz Paglar Mor on the Sherpur Road in the district town around 9am.
jubairfe1980@gmail.com