Arson and blasts mark BNP strike

BNP’s dawn to dusk general strike on Tuesday has been marked by incidents of arson, explosions of crude bombs and clashes that took place in most parts of the country including the capital.

Pro-shutdown activists were not visible on the streets of Dhaka during the nationwide strike on Tuesday following two days of strike by their ally, Jamaat-e-Islami.

Meanwhile, Shahbagh’s Ganajagaran Mancha had not openly opposed the BNP-sponsored shutdown, like they had done ahead of the Jamaat-sponsored 48-hour strike.

Dhaka

Three cocktails were detonated near BNP’s central headquarters in Naya Paltan at around 11:30am on Tuesday.

A crude bomb was hurled 50 feet away from the BNP offices by miscreants riding a motorcycle. The sound from the explosions caused alarm in the area. The motorcycle riders disappeared soon after the blast.

Two other blasts took place after 12:00pm in front of Ananda Bhaban and Naya Paltan mosque.

No one has been injured in the blasts. Police were not able to arrest those responsible.

BNP has accused the government for these incidents. They claimed ruling party activists were circling the street shouting slogans before the blasts took place.

BNP's Naya Paltan headquarter was under a heavy security blanket. Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that the government had confined them in the office and were not allowing anyone to enter.

People on motorcycles lobbed four crude bombs in Dhaka University's TSC area and fled when the police fired in the air.

The attackers came from the direction of the Central Shaheed Minar and exploded four crude bombs on the road between TSC and DUS at around 9:45am, Shahbagh Police Station Officer in-Charge Sirajul Islam told bdnews24.com.

Earlier, reports of pro-shutdown processions and bomb explosions were received from Sabujbagh, Mugda, Gulshan Link Road and other areas of the capital. Vandalism was reported from Golapbagh area of Jatrabari.

Fire Service and Civil Defence Control Room Officer Mohammad Ali confirmed to bdnews24.com of a bus being set on fire at Kawran Bazar at around 5:30am. Two fire fighting units controlled the fire.

Some handmade crude bombs exploded when another bus was set on fire in Doaripara of Mirpur.

Three crude bombs were lobbed on the Mohakhali Wireless Gate area around 10:00am. Police said they nabbed two suspects from the place.

Several blasts took place at 11:00am on Rokeya Shoroni in Mirpur’s Shaowrapara, said Kafrul Police OC Kazi Wajed Ali. Panic spread in the area following the explosions.

After that, Police conducted a raid in a garment factory but were not able to arrest anyone.

Chittagong

Back to back clashes took place between Bangladesh Chhatra League activists and BNP workers near BNP’s party office in Chittagong after noon on Tuesday.

A motorcycle was vandalised and another one set on fire by BNP activists during that time.

Chhatra League activists were shouting slogans and displaying strength with a parade of 30 to 40 motorcycles at the city’s Naval Avenue intersection at around 2pm, when BNP activists, positioned in front of their party office at Nasimon Bhaban, chased them as they hurled brick bats. Chhatra League activists also responded by throwing brick bats.

The situation was brought under control as Police and senior BNP leaders reached the site.

Earlier, in a case of sabotage a 20-inch rail track was found cut away in Bhatiari of Chittagong. That led to delays in train services on the Dhaka-Chittagong and Sylhet-Chittagong routes.

Rajshahi

Picketers attempted to block roads and railways with burning tyres in Rajshahi during the BNP enforced strike on Tuesday.

Rajshahi Metropolitan Awami League Ward unit-3 office in Bandhagate area of the city was set on fire at around 5:30am, said the OC. “Miscreants set off the fire and fled… Fire fighters controlled the flames… Some portions of the office were completely burnt.”

District and metropolitan units of the BNP brought out processions in the city in the morning.

Meanwhile, a medicine laden pick-up truck was burned down late Monday night at Binodpur area adjacent to Rajshahi University at around 11:30pm, reported bdnews24.com Rajshahi Correspondent.

Nearly 12 locally made bombs exploded in the area.

Petrol bombs were also hurled at Malopara Police Outpost in the night before Tuesday’s, at around 9:30pm. ‘Miscreants’ lobbed crude bombs at the residence of a local Bangladesh Chhatra League leader.

Gazipur

Miscreants torched a train at Gazipur’s Joydebpur junction during the BNP enforced strike on Tuesday. Two rows of seats in one of the back carriages of Dhaka-bound Turag Express were set on fire at around 10am, OC SM Kamruzzaman of Joydebpur police station has said.

Further damage was prevented as Police and railway staff quickly doused the fire, the OC said.

Earlier, a human hauler was also set on fire at 7am at a stand near the station. Another human hauler was vandalised in the town’s Jorpukur area, said the OC.

Ruling party activists attacked the district BNP office at around 12pm. The attack was launched from a procession brought out by the Awami league and its aliies, police and witnesses said.

BNP activists, numbering 20-25, were preparing to take out a procession at the time of the attack said the party's joint secretary of Dr. Mazharul Islam. He said 10 to 12 BNP leaders and activists were injured in the attack.

Police tried to stop the attack, said SI Aminul Islam for Joydebpur Police Station.

After the attack on their office BNP activists came down to the Razbari Street and vandalised an auto-rickshaw and some rickshaws, said the SI.

BNP and its allies from Tongi took out a procession at 7:30 am to reach the College Gate area where they tried to set fire to an auto-rickshaw and a bus in Cherag Ali market area. Back to back clashes took place place as Police tried to disband them. They fired tear gas shells to disband the pro-shutdown activists.

Minibus, auto-rickshaw and rickshaw were seen plying the streets of the district from Tuesday morning; however no long distance buses were seen.

Rangpur

10 people have been injured in a clash between BNP and Awami League activists in Ragpur’s Lalmonirhat. The clash took place in Noyarhaat area at around 11:30am on Tuesday. Three of the injured have been admitted to Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital.

The clash took place after a pro-shutdown procession by the BNP leaders and activists met an anti-shutdown procession by Awami League activists and those of its allies, said OC Jamir Uddin for Sadar Police.

The situation there is now under control, he said.