Firebombing kills 9 more

A fresh spell of 72-hour countrywide hartal called by the BNP-led 20-party alliance begins at 6:00 am today.
The hartal call came amid the loss of nine more lives in separate arson attacks in Gaibandha and Barisal with the non-stop countrywide blockade continuing for the 33rd day on Saturday.
Six people lost their lives in an arson attack on a bus at Tulshighat in Sadar upazila of Gaibandha one hour before Saturday midnight.
Four people, including a child, died on the spot and 30 others were injured as miscreants hurled several petrol bombs at the bus around 11:00 pm.
Two of the injured succumbed to his injuries later on Saturday at Rangpur Medical College and Hospital.
In the other attack three people were killed early on Saturday as miscreants hurled petrol bomb at a truck in Gaurnadi upazila of Barisal.
Police and witnesses said the Barisal-bound truck from Faridpur came under attack about 3:45 am and its cabin was burnt completely in the firebomb attack.
Besides, an activist of Jamaat-e-Islami was killed in a 'gunfight' with police at local bus stand in Nesarabad upazila of Pirojpur early Saturday.
The deceased was identified as Bachchu, 25, son of Abdur Jabbar, of Jagannathkathi village in the upazila.
Abdul Quader Begh, assistant superintendent of police, Pirojpur circle, said police arrested Bachchu along with petrol from Nesarabad area around 9:00 pm on Friday.
Police along with Bachchu conducted a drive in Nesarabad bus stand area around 2:30 am.
Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the supporters of Jamaat-Shibir who gathered in the area for carrying out sabotage hurled several crude bombs and opened fire at the police, prompting them to retaliate and triggering a gunfight.
Local Shibir leader Jakir Hossain said Bachchu was not their leader or activist.
However, traffic in the city was almost normal on the 33rd day of blockade, marked by stray incidents of violence, arson attacks, clashes and arrest of BNP-Jamaat activists. But just after the evening, the city wore a deserted look.
Police arrested at least 300 leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat-Shibir from different parts of the country. Of them, 16 were picked up from the capital, 32 from Dhaka division, 61 from Jessore, 57 from Rangpur division, 26 from Barisal, 29 from Rajshahi, 33 from Khulna and 25 from Chittagong.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on January 5 announced the non-stop transport blockade as the alliance was not allowed to hold a meeting in the capital.
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