BNP announces another 48-hr blockade from Wednesday

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and like-minded political parties called another two-day nationwide blockade from Wednesday, following the one that ended on Tuesday amid arsons, sporadic clashes and police clampdown.
The BNP and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) made the announcements in a virtual press briefing and a press statement on Monday, respectively.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary-General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi hailed party leaders and activists for making the previous blockade a success.
"The BNP men will peacefully observe the blockade across the country to oust the government," he said.
In a statement, LDP President Oli Ahmed urged other political parties and alliances to support their campaign to force the government to resign.
"This government must step down. Make little sacrifices for the sake of the country's sovereignty and people's constitutional rights," he said in the statement.
He requested people to keep their vehicles off the streets to show their support for the ongoing anti-government movement.
Sources said the BNP avoided calling for any protests on Monday since the party observes the day as the 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day'.
On Monday, at least five vehicles, including buses and a human-hauler, were torched by miscreants in different parts of the capital city.
According to a media statement by the fire service, picketers torched a staff bus in Jurain, a human-hauler in Mugda and a truck in Motijheel area during the first half of Monday. Two public buses were also torched at Gulistan and Mirpur before 7:00 pm.
A fire service official told The Financial Express that the public bus that was set ablaze at Gulistan at around 2:00 pm belongs to 'Bikalpo Paribahan'.
He said that two firefighting units rushed to the spot and doused the flames, but there were no reports of casualties.
Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman declared on Monday that he would reward anyone who could catch the arsonists red-handed setting fire to vehicles.
The DMP commissioner said on Monday that police have arrested many of those responsible for setting fire to vehicles, throwing petrol bombs and committing violence and arson attacks during the opposition's blockade.
"We have made some arrests in recent days with the help of eyewitnesses," he said during a meeting with petrol pump owners. "We will give awards to those who help police arrest the arsonists."
Meanwhile, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Commander Khandakar Al Moin said that RAB has started providing security to long-route bus services.
"RAB made 460 patrols across the country during the blockade," he said at a press briefing on Monday.
"We are also providing security to passenger buses and goods-laden trucks. We are coordinating with the transport owners. Long-route buses are being provided security at certain times with our escort."
Moin said that RAB teams have visited garment factories in Savar and Kaliakoir to ensure the safety of workers.
He warned that RAB will take stern action against those responsible for creating anarchy and violence.
"We have detained those who were behind the scenes inciting violence in the garment sector," he said. "Garment workers are now working with safety and security due to effective steps taken by RAB."
In another development on Monday, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami activists sat on railway tracks at Tejgaon to enforce the second day of the opposition-sponsored blockade.
BNP and other political parties have observed a five-day blockade in two phases to demand the government's resignation.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com