9 injured in indiscriminate blasts in city

At least nine people were injured in crude bomb blasts in the capital's New Market area yesterday, the 24th day of the BNP-led alliance's nonstop countrywide blockade.

Five hawkers, two students, a rickshaw puller and a pedestrian were hurt in the incident.

They are undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Assistant Sub-Inspector Sentu Das of DMCH Police Camp told The Daily Star.

Suspected blockaders hurled at least six crude bombs in front of Gate-2 of New Market around 5:45pm, leaving eight people injured, victims told reporters at the hospital.

Around the same time, three crude bombs went off in front of Gate-4 of New Market, leaving a man injured.

Contacted, New Market police said they were yet to arrest anyone in this connection.

Meanwhile, a total of five vehicles were torched across the country yesterday, according to Fire Service and Civil Defence. Of the vehicles, three were set ablaze in Dhaka, one in Comilla and one in Kishoreganj.

Alleged blockaders set fire to a double-decker BRTC bus, which is used to carry Dhaka University students, in front of Curzon Hall around 3:00pm yesterday. A portion of the bus was burnt, an official of the fire service told The Daily Star. None was reported to be hurt in the incident.

In Jessore, suspected blockaders torched a packed bus at Kismat Noapara in Sadar upazila early yesterday. None was injured. One person was arrested in this connection, police said.

A mason was burnt on Wednesday night as alleged blockaders hurled a petrol bomb at a CNG-run three-wheeler in Kalipal area on Feni-Sonagazi road, police said. Injured Nawshad, 40, was first taken to Feni Sadar Hospital, and later sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

In Satkhira, police detained 38 people, including 13 BNP-Jamaat men.

Barisal police arrested Habibur Rahman, president of Barisal City Islami Chhatra Shibir, from the city for his alleged involvement in subversive activities during the blockade.

At least 35 people were killed and around a thousand were injured since the BNP-led alliance announced the blockade on January 5. Of the dead, 23 had no link with politics.

According to the fire service, at least 360 vehicles were torched during this period. However, the number of vehicles torched is believed to be much higher.

Meanwhile, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), student wing of the BNP, has called a daylong hartal in Sylhet city and district for Sunday, protesting the “baseless cases” filed against Khaleda Zia and the countrywide arrest and killing of its leaders and activists.