Life comes almost to halt in city over political standoff

The capital wore an unusually calm and desolate look on Monday, as business activities and traffic virtually came to a standstill, following a confrontational political situation and subsequent tension that gripped the city dwellers.
Especially office-goers and business people had to face immense sufferings because of the deadlock, created following the pre-scheduled programme and counter-programme by two major political parties-ruling Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) - marking the first anniversary of January 5 election.
A hartal-like situation prevailed on the day amid volatile political situation with an indefinite ban on rallies in the capital by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
Tension and panic started gripping people from all walks of life in the capital since Saturday midnight, when law-enforcers confined BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office by locking up its main entrance, while she wanted to attend a rally in front of the party's Naya Paltan Central Office.
Following the confinement, the city witnessed sporadic incidents of vandalism, arson attack, bomb blast and chase and counter-chase between police and BNP supporters in several areas despite deployment of an additional number of law-enforcers.
Policemen in a raid also recovered 20 petrol bombs from a house at Gendaria in the early morning, while clashes were reported at Kuril Bishwaroad, Naya Paltan, Old Dhaka and National Press Club on the eventful day.
Leaders and activists of the ruling AL and its front organisaions were also found patrolling the city streets throughout the day.
Amid rising tension over the first anniversary of the much-talked-about 10th parliamentary polls on January 5, a low number of people were found coming out of their houses, only for attending offices and emergencies.
After visiting several key city points like Shahbag, Farmgate, Motijheel, Mohakhali, Gulshan, Banani, Mirpur, Elephant Road and Karwan Bazar, hundreds of office-goers were seen waiting at the bus stops, while scarcity of transport forced many of them to walk long distances.
Talking to the FE, Meer Mostafizur Rahman, who works at ICB Capital Management at Motijheel, said he waited for nearly 45 minutes to get into a transport at Bangla Motor Intersection.
"Being failed to do so, I've started walking to reach my office. I'm really worried over the political situation, as it is worsening day by day," he said.
Shamsur Rahman, who came to visit his ailing father-in-law at Dhaka Medical College Hospital from Indira Road of the city, said people's sufferings turned severe because of the day's critical political situation.
"I went to the hospital on foot for not having any transport. Politicians should not do anything that hurts common people. The prevailing situation is really horrific," he added.    
Mohammad Rafiq, who runs a shop in the capital's Eskaton area, said a group of political parties identified January 5 as a historic day of upholding democracy while another group called it as democracy killing day.
"And we, the common people, are being sandwiched in between the confrontational stances of the leading political parties," he added.
Talking to the FE, SA Kader Kiron, president of Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity, said a good number of shops, shopping malls and other commercial establishments were also closed on the day in fear of possible trouble.
"We witnessed more than 100 days of countrywide shutdown in 2013 due to political turbulence. We've started recouping the loss. But the eruption of fresh trouble will drive us out of the business," said Mr. Kiron, who leads 2.6 million shop owners across the country.
The capital also remained virtually cut off from the rest of the country, as movements of inter-district busses and launches were suspended in the wake of political turmoil.
Transport operators said most of the owners stopped plying their vehicles, fearing looming political mayhem. Some workers said transport leaders instructed them not to ply vehicles to bring anyone to the capital on the day.  
The ruling AL secured a landslide victory on 5 January 2014 polls, which BNP and its ally parties boycotted over apprehension of vote rigging in absence of a neutral caretaker government.
The boycott by BNP and its allies meant a majority of members in the 300-seat parliament were elected unopposed, keeping AL for another five years in power.
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