BNP announces 3-day nationwide blockade over arrests after violent clashes

The party starts protesting against arrests of party leaders and activists after violent clashes with police during an antigovernment rally

BNP supporters try to block off police from getting to the Naya Paltan rally grounds by setting fire to objects on the street on Saturday, Oct 28, 2023. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

The BNP has called a nationwide blockade for three days starting on Tuesday in protest against arrests of party leaders and activists after violent clashes with police during an antigovernment rally.

Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programme at an online press conference on Sunday evening after Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was detained in the morning.

Police also searched the residences of Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Joint Secretary General Moazzem Hossain Alal, and Ishraque Hossain, but they were not at home.

Another member of the policymaking Standing Committee, Mirza Abbas, is among hundreds accused in six cases with Shahjahanpur police over violence during the rally.

Accompanied by Health Affairs Secretary Dr Rafiqul Islam and Assistant Finance Secretary Mahmudur Rahman Sumon, Rizvi said the blockade will be enforced on roads, railways and river routes.

Rizvi alleged that their rally, which was called to end the “misrule of the Awami League and save democracy”, was attacked unprovoked.

The BNP, he said, will continue with its movement aimed to topple the government before the election despite arrests of and cases against top and grassroots level leaders.

More than 960 BNP activists have been arrested, 20 cases filed and over 3,000 people injured in violence during the rally and the shutdown, according to him.