Blockade takes one more life
Blockade takes one more life
Convoy of trucks attacked in Chapainawabganj
One more burn victim in Rangpur died yesterday raising the death toll to 31 in the ongoing political violence since January 5.
At least two drivers and a helper were burnt in arson attacks on two vehicles in Rajshahi and Thakurgaon Sunday night and yesterday -- the second day of the 36-hour hartal.
Alleged activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir once again attacked an escorted convoy of 60 trucks in Chapainawabganj, smashing windshields of at least eight vehicles.
The convoy was heading towards Sonamasjid Land Port and other areas of Shibganj under the protection of police and BGB forces. It came under attack around 9:30am at Shantir More where Shibir activists gathered after a rally. They hurled brick chunks at the trucks and blasted crude bombs, reports our Chapainawabganj correspondent.
No one, however, was injured in the incident.
Police arrested at least 15 persons from different areas of the town in this connection. Earlier on Sunday, law enforcers had arrested nine BNP and Jamaat men from these areas on charges of arson and vandalism.
At least three vehicles were torched in the capital last night, according to fire service officials.
People's sufferings saw no respite yesterday as they could not travel from and to the capital with trains running behind schedule on the 21st day of the blockade. The launch service, however, was normal.
Law enforcers detained at least 136 alleged Jamaat-BNP men from eight districts including the capital for their alleged involvement in subversive activities.
In Rangpur, Abdul Malek, who suffered burns in an arson attack near Vatgaon Bridge in Kaharole of Dinajpur Wednesday night, died at the Rangpur Medical College Hospital at 3:00pm, reports our Rangpur correspondent.
The 50-year-old was a small trader in a village under Nilphamari Sadar upazila. He sustained burns when blockaders set fire to a truck he was riding while returning home from the Bishwa Ijtema, said his wife Mamata Begum.
The truck was fully burnt and Malek and truck driver Rabiul Islam, 45, received severe injuries. They were admitted to Rangpur Medical, where Rabiul is undergoing treatment.
In Thakurgaon, a pick-up van driver was burnt as blockaders torched his vehicle on the Thakurgaon-Dinajpur highway in the sadar upazila's Unotrishmile.
Victim Nazmul Islam, 26, who hails from Sahebgarh Bahalbaria village under Mirpur upazila of Kushtia, told reporters that he was carrying chickens from a Brac office in Bogra with another driver Monirul Islam.
As they reached Unotrishmile around 12:20pm, blockaders barricaded the road with logs and torched it after pouring petrol. Nazmul was stuck inside, said Monirul.
Police rescued Nazmul and sent him to Dhaka as his condition deteriorated.
After the incident, police and BGB raided adjacent villages and picked up nine persons on suspicion, police sources said.
In Rajshahi, a truck driver and his helper were burnt as alleged blockaders torched the truck in Charghat upazila Sunday night.
The truck drivers Torun Biswas, 45, and Shahabul, 25, were admitted to the burn unit of the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, said police.
In Habiganj, law enforcers arrested three young men from the Sadar upazila's Umednagar area for their alleged link to petrol bomb attacks in different areas, sources said.
One of the arrestees reportedly confessed during interrogation that they had hurled two crude bombs at the residence of Shahidul Islam, the district's additional superintendent of police, sources added.
In Jhalakathi, miscreants hurled petrol bombs at the house of Awami League leader and Jhalakathi Sadar municipality mayor Afzal Hossain Rana Sunday night, burning parts of a room. None however was hurt, police said.
Meanwhile police arrested Anadi Das, president of Jhalakathi town unit BNP, in connection with an arson at Jhalakathi Bus stand Sunday night. They also detained the ameer of Jhalakathi Sadar municipality Jamaat-e-Islami.
Alleged blockaders set fire to a bus of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University in Mymensingh and a truck in Pabna Sunday night and yesterday.
Two trucks were also torched in Sherpur last night, according to fire service officials.