Six-hour road, rail blockade in Phulbari

Dinajpur, Mar 28 (bdnews24.com) — A citizens' committee enforced a six-hour road-rail blockade in Phulbari Upazila to press for, among others, suspension of open-pit coal mining.

About 2,000 people undertook the programme from Dhaka Crossing to Phulbari level crossing from 6am on Monday.

The National Committee on Protection of Oil-Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports imposed the protest programme in support of their six-point charter of demands.

Several hundred vehicles remained stranded on both sides of the blockade points.

Witnesses said that except food and pharmaceuticals shops, all other shops remained shut, though the blockade was called to halt vehicular and rail movement only.

No vehicle was found plying in the one-kilometre stretch from the blockade spot to Hospital Intersection.

Station master Abdus Sattar of the Phulbari railway station told bdnews24.com no train could be run during the blockade. Intercity Express, Rupsa, Barandra, Simanta and Titumir trains got stuck at the station due to the blockade.

Massive security arrangements were made in Phulbari in view of the blockade programme, and additional deployment of policemen and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members had been made there.

The blockade was lifted at around 12pm.

Several small processions were taken out on various roads of Phulbari town during the blockade. The protesters also picketed at Dhaka Crossing, Hospital Intersection and Railway Gate area.

A rally was organised at Dhaka Crossing after the blockade.

Committee convener engineer Sheikh Mohammad Shahidullah, member secretary Anu Mohammad, Gana Front's Tipu Biswas, Junaid Saki of Ganasanghati Andolon, Mosharraf Hossain of Communist League and Phulbari Upazila chairman Aminul Islam Bablu spoke at the rally.

bdnews24.com/corr/cs/skb/nir/1820h