Countrywide blockade on

The fourth spell of the Opposition's countrywide transport blockade has begun on Tuesday after a brief 4-day respite.

BNP supporters marching in a procession burst a few handmade bombs early in the morning in capital Dhaka's Khilkhet area, but fled before the police arrived, locals said.

Bombs have also gone off in Dhaka's Bijoy Sarani area. No other violent incident was, however, reported from elsewhere in the city within in the first three hours of the 72-hour blockade.

A large force of RAB and police personnel had been deployed in the capital before the blockade got under way at 6am. The security men have been searching passing vehicles.

Long-haul buses remained garaged at Dhaka's Mohakhali, Sayedabad and Gabtoli inter-district terminals.

Buses that usually ply between the capital and its outskirts during strikes and blockades were not seen on Tuesday.

Rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and small 4-wheel vehicles were on the streets but city service buses were infrequent, leaving office-goers with few transport choices on a working day.

Authorities, however, claimed that ferry and launch services were normal.

This is the fourth Opposition-sponsored nationwide transport blockade.

BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan announced at a press conference on Monday that the blockade would end on Friday 6am.

More than 75 persons have died in the 14 days of three back-to-back blockades since Nov 26, a day after the Election Commission announced the schedule of Jan 5 polls.

The previous blockade ended on early morning Dec 13 (Friday), but the Jamaat-e-Islami called a nationwide strike on Sunday protesting war crimes convict Abdul Quader Molla's execution.

Between the 3 back-to-back blockades in as many weeks, the Opposition allowed the country got short breathers on Saturday and Monday.

The ruling Awami League is set for the Jan 5 polls, although the BNP is opposing it and has threatened a fiercer movement if the elections are not postponed.