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Blast, arrest mark blockade, hartal

FE Report | February 13, 2015 00:00:00


The 38th day of the indefinite blockade and the last day of 108-hour shutdown, enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance, were marked by stray incidents of violence and arrest across the country on Thursday.

The alliance activists brought out processions in different places of the city in the morning. No major untoward incidents took place.

Traffic was almost normal on the streets. Very few number of long-route buses left or reached Dhaka on the day. A large number of law enforcers remained deployed in the capital to fend off any trouble.

Bombs exploded in some places, including Dhaka University area, Jagannath University area, Jatrabari, Shanir AKhra, Mirpur 1, Mohammadpur and Farmgate. No casualties were reported in the bomb blasts.

Miscreants threw 20/25 crude bombs at the house of BNP chairperson's adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo and set fire to a room at Alaipur village in Daganbhuiyan upazila of Feni Wednesday night, witnesses said.

They also set fire to a tin-shed room of the house. Later, local people doused the blaze. However, no one was hurt in the attack.

Besides, two BNP activists sustained bullet injuries in a 'gunfight' with police in Khagdahar bypass area in Mymensingh town early Thursday.

The injured were identified as Mehedi, a resident of Jamtala area and Sharif Molla, a resident of Goailkandi in the town.

Police said on secret information, a team of police conducted a drive in the area to arrest saboteurs at dead of night. Sensing presence of police, the saboteurs opened fire at the law enforcers, resulting in a gunfight.

Later, police arrested the duo while their associates managed to flee the scene. The injured were admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital under police custody.

A case was filed against 100 leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat in connection with Tuesday's petrol bomb attack on a truck in Durgapur upazila of Netrakona, which left its driver and helper injured with burns.

Sub-inspector Mazharul Islam filed the case on Thursday. BNP central leader Barrister Kaiser Kamal was among the accused.

Police arrested some 250 BNP and Jamaat activists from different parts of the country, including 20 in capital, 21 in Narail, 40 in Noakhali, 41 in Pabna, four in Manikganj, 18 in Gazipur, 14 in Gaibandha, three in Narayanganj, six in Natore and 11 in Chittagong.

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