At least 15 vehicles travelling from Rajshahi to Dhaka have been attacked by activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir, even though the vehicles were being escorted by security forces.
Published : 22 Jan 2015, 03:42 PM
There were more than 50 vehicles including buses and trucks in that convoy and a third of them were damaged with petrol bombs and brickbats. Three persons, who tried to resist the assault, have been injured by bombs.
The attack was launched in the half-kilometre stretch between Kadirganj’s Barnali to Darikharbanar intersection and Binodpur around 12:30pm on Thursday.
Two brothers, identified as ‘Machim’ and ‘Kajim’, are among the injured. They were admitted to the Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital.
The Jamaat, Shibir attack was launched in support of the nationwide blockade, said Boalia Model Police Station Inspector Mahamud Hasan.
The motorcade was later able to move ahead with the help of police, RAB and BGB, he said. It was passing Barnali intersection at noon when the assailants, divided in groups, launched the attack.
“They exploded 18 bombs including petrol bombs. Ten to 12 of them were thrown at the trucks. A petrol bomb set one of the trucks’ front side on fire, but the flames extinguished on their own. At least 15 vehicles including seven auto-rickshaws have been damaged.”
The miscreants were chased away by locals at Darikharbanar intersection, who then threw a bomb and fled. Brothers ‘Machim’ and ‘Kajim’ were injured in that blast.
Motihar Police OC Alamgir Hossain said supporters of the blockade enforced by the BNP and its allies attacked vehicles at Binodpur with petrol bombs and hand-made bombs.
A truck was set on fire but police and the vehicle’s workers quickly put it out, he said.