At least two passengers were injured, as miscreants hurled a petrol bomb at a long-route bus in Savar off the capital on early Friday, the 67th day of BNP-led alliance-enforced non-stop transport blockade.
The injured are Abdur Rahim, 50, and Akkas Ali, 70, said Mohammad Motaleb Mia, officer-in-charge (OC) of Savar Police Station, adding that they are receiving treatment at Enam Medical College Hospital.
The firebomb attack took place at around 2:00 am on the Dhaka-bound bus of Rajanigandha Paribahan on Dhaka-Aricha Highway in Genda area.
The OC further said firefighters rushed to the spot upon receiving information and put out the blaze.The attack occurred after the authorities concerned decided to resume plying long-route buses on highways from Thursday night, which were suspended from February 9.Night-time services of long-route buses were halted due to fear of arson attack and violence amid the ongoing countrywide blockade, sponsored by the BNP-led 20-party alliance from January 6.
However, the latest spell of nationwide hartal that continued alongside the indefinite blockade ended on Friday morning amid stray incidents of violence and arrest.
In the capital, police arrested eight leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat-Shibir for 'sabotage plan' from different places during a drive in the night.
Vehicular movement was normal, while a large number of law-enforcers remained deployed in different parts of the capital to fend off any trouble. Bombs went off in Mohammadpur, Shaymoli and Dhaka University area.
In Naogaon, police in a drive recovered 12 Molotov cocktails from Jatamrul village in Atrai upazila on early Friday.
Abdul Latif Khan, OC of Atrai Police Station, said acting on secret information, a team of police conducted a drive in the area and recovered the firebombs from an abandoned house at around 5 am.
In Chapainawabganj, police allegedly shot an Islami Chhatra Shibir activist - Jibon, 18 - on Friday morning. Jibon's relatives alleged that he was shot by police after arresting from Shibtala in the town.
Jibon, shot in the right leg, was admitted to a local hospital, Chapainawabganj Sadar Model Police Station OC Golam Mortuza said.
Mortuza also said they raided the area acting on a tip-off when Shibir activists hurled several improvised bombs at police, leaving three injured. Jibon was injured in police firing while trying to flee.
bdsmile@gmail.com
