Kishoreganj blockade begins

A nonstop Kishoreganj blockade programme enforced by people in Bhairab and Kuliarchar upazilas began yesterday demanding that Bhairab and Kuliarchar upazilas be upgraded into a full-fledged district.
Bhairab District Implementation Committee and All Party Action Council also enforced the programme from 6:00am in protest against burning down the effigy of the President Zillur Rahman.
Hundreds of protesters took position on highways, waterways and railway stations in Bhairab in the morning.
However, no untoward incident was reported from anywhere during the blockade programme.
Train services on Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Sylhet routes, while bus services on Dhaka-Kishoreganj Highway and launch services on different routes remained suspended following the programme.
The protesters also disrupted supply of oil from Padma, Meghna and Jamuna oil depots to Kishoreganj sadar from Bhairab.
A rally was held at the foot of Liberation War Memorial 'Durjoy Bhairab' where the speakers alleged that a section of lawyers is opposing the proposed Bhairab district apprehending fall in their income.
They demanded arrest and punishment of those involved in burning down the effigy of the president during a daylong hartal in Kishoreganj sadar upazila on November 2.
The daylong hartal was observed protesting the government move to upgrade Bhairab into a district.