The second day of the fresh 48-hour nationwide hartal, enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance, alongside its 73rd day of the ongoing countrywide indefinite transport blockade passed off 'peacefully' on Thursday.
Bangladesh-India cricket match might have provided some breathing space to all, including picketers, as the city streets were almost desolate throughout the day. No procession or picketing was seen in support of the hartal in the city.
However, a large number of law-enforcers remained deployed as usual in different parts of the capital to fend off any trouble.
BNP joint secretary general Barkatullah Bulu, on behalf of the alliance, announced the fresh shutdown programme on Tuesday, which is scheduled to end today (Friday) 6.00 am.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday night, a trucker was burnt alive and five injured, as unidentified miscreants hurled petrol bombs at two goods-laden trucks in separate places in Chandpur Sadar upazila.
The deceased truck driver, identified as Jahangir, 35, was a resident of Satkhira. He died instantly, as miscreants hurled petrol bomb targeting the goods-laden truck at around 12:10 am on Wednesday.
The Khulna-bound truck from Jessore came under the attack at Chandra intersection in Chandpur, leaving trucker Jahangir dead, said Abdul Qaiyum, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station.
The three other injured in the incident - Sharif, 35, owner of the vehicle, Rubel, 35, its helper, and Khorshed, 30, a cattle trader - were severely burnt during the attack.
They were rushed to Chandpur Sadar Hospital by local CNG-drivers, present at the scene. Later, they were transferred to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, doctors at Sadar Hospital said.
In another incident, the driver and the helper of a truck were injured when they jumped off the vehicle after it came under firebomb attack in Raghunathpur area of Chandpur Sadar upazila.
The injured driver Md Amanat Khan, 40, and helper Kalu Bepari, 22, were undergoing treatment at Chandpur Sadar Hospital.
Law-enforcers arrested around 150 BNP-Jammat activists on Wednesday night through conducting drives across the country, including seven in Mirpur, Dhaka, seven in Chittagong, 69 in Jessore, 30 in Khulna, three in Nilphamari, 37 in Gaibandha, and 10 in Bogra.
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