Cop loses fingers in Chapainawabganj bomb blast

A freight truck burns in flames after pro-blockade activists hurl a petrol bomb on it defying heavy security provided by the law enforcers in Shibtola area in Chapainawabganj town on Thursday. Photo: Star

A policeman was critically wounded when opposition activists hurled crude bombs at law enforcers in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj this morning as the BNP-led 20-party alliance’s countrywide nonstop blockade continues.
Meanwhile, at least seven vehicles were torched through Dhaka, Manikganj at its outskirts and Chapainawabganj districts. One alleged Shibir man was caught during arson.

In Chapainawabganj, several fingers of Constable of Shibganj Police Station Sohel Rana were blown off when he along with other law enforcers rushed to the scene where blockaders were torching a stone-laden truck at a refueling station in Shibganj upazila around 9:00am, reports our local correspondent quoting Irtiza Hassan, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Shibganj upazila.
Al Mamun, additional superintendent of police in Chapainawabganj, endorsed the attack and said Rana was attending treatments at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
In a separate incident in Shibtola of Sadar upazila, blockaders hurled petrol bombs and burned a Dhaka-bound freight truck around 11:00am, Mamun said.
The Daily Star obtained photos that showed that the damaged truck was part of a convoy that was being escorted by paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
“One activist of Islami Chhatra Shibir was caught at the scene. The gutted bus’ driver sustained injuries and was rushed to a nearby medical centre for treatments,” he added.

Fire fighters try to douse the blaze on a freight truck at Shibtola in Chapainawabganj on Thursday. Photo: Star

In Dhaka, a passenger bus was set on fire in Banasree residential area around 12:30pm, said Mustafiz Bhuiyan, officer-in-charge of Khilgaon Police Station.
The blockaders managed to flee after pouring petrol inside the bus and set fire to it, the official added quoting locals, he said. No injury was reported.
The miscreants torched a bus of New Super Service around 4:30pm at Nilkhet while a bus of Victor Paribahan was set on fire in Jagannath University area around 5:15pm, the Fire Service and Civil Defence officials said.

In Manikganj, two passenger buses of SP Golden Line and Jatriseba Paribahan were set on fire in Paturia Ghat area around 3:55am, our local correspondent reports quoting Abdul Khaleque, a sub-inspector of Paturia Police Outpost.
However, no one was reported to have been injured in the incident.