Officials of Border Guard Bangladesh try to negotiate with the activists of BNP-led 18-party alliance as they blockade Dhaka-Aricha highway at Aminbazar, on the outskirt of the capital, this morning. Photo: STAR

At least nine people including three policemen were injured as pro-blockade activists clashed with law enforcers and resorted to explosion, arson and vandalism in different parts of the capital this morning, on the first day of opposition-called 48-hour blockade.

Kaikobad Kazi, officer-in-charge of Dakkhinkhan Police Station, sustained injuries during a clash with pro-blockade activists and police in Azampur of Uttara, said SA Newazi, senior assistant commissioner (airport zone) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

The OC is now out of danger, Newazi added.

The BNP-led 18-party opposition combine called the blockade of roads, rail and waterways, rejecting the schedule for 10th parliamentary election.

In a televised address to the nation yesterday, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad unveiled the polls fixture saying that the next general election will be held on January 5.

The violence was reported from Hatirpool, Nayapaltan, Uttara, Jatrabari and Aminbazar area of Savar, on the outskirts of the capital.

A driver of a CNG-run auto rickshaw sustained burn injuries when pro-blockade activists allegedly set fire to his vehicle near Eastern Plaza market in Hatirpool area of the capital around 1:00pm.

At least five policemen including Dakkhinkhan OC were injured during a clash with pro-blockade activists in Azampur of Uttara while three more people were injured when miscreants set fire to five vehicles and vandalised 16 others in Uttara, on Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Jatrabari and Dhaka-Aricha highway in Aminbazar.

The law enforcers also rounded up seven people from Uttar for their alleged involvement with the clash.

Meanwhile, the opposition men blasted at least nine crude bombs in Uttara, Nayapaltan and Aminbazar.

No injury was reported from the blasts.

UTTARA

At least five people including Dakkhinkhan OC and two constables were injured when the pro-blockage activists clashed with law enforcers at Azampur Rail Crossing in Uttara around 9:30am, witnesses said.

The clash ensued when police resisted the activists when they set fire to the railway tracks and vandalised the rail crossing, said a senior assistant commissioner (airport zone) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

At one stage of clash, the activists hurled the stones which were used on the rail tracks, said Mohammad Hanif, the signal man of the level crossing, leaving the OC injured.

He was undergoing treatment at Care Point Hospital in Uttara.

During the clash, the police men fired nearly 50 bullets from their shotguns and pistols to bring the situation under control.

The marauding activists also torched two motorcycles on the scene.

The law enforcers also rounded up six people from the spot.

Three handmade bombs were exploded near Uttara-Abdullahpur intersection in half an hour from 11:00am.

Police picked up a person from the scene on charge of exploding the crude bombs and also fired four gunshots to bring the situation under control.

Miscreants also vandalised a bus at Tongi Bazar near Abdullahpur around 2:30pm.

HATIRPOOL

A three-wheeler driver sustained burn injuries when pro-blockade activists allegedly set fire to his vehicle near Eastern Plaza market in Hatirpool area of the capital around 1:00pm.

Victim Saved Ali, 33, is now undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.

Describing the incident, the victim told The Daily Star that two youths set fire to his vehicle pouring petrol when he was taking fares from passengers.

JATRABARI

The pickets torched three vehicles and vandalised 12 other near Asma Ali GNG Filling Station in Matuail of Jatrabari during a span of one hour beginning from around 3:45am, reports our correspondent.

A driver of a CNG-run three-wheeler was injured when the miscreants vandalised his vehicle, witnesses said.

Two helpers of a covered van sustained injuries when the miscreants vandalised their parked vehicles on the spot, said Maksud, a helper of the van.

The criminals spread gun-powder on the vans after vandalism and set fire to those, Maksud added.

Nearly 40 trouble makers resorted to the violence on the spot, the witnesses added.

AMINBAZAR

Pro-blockade activists clashed with policemen and vandalised at least three vehicles on Dhaka-Aricha highway at Aminbazar, on the outskirt area of the capital, in the morning.

Around 9:30am, the opposition men started demonstration blocking the highway.

On information, members of Border Guard Bangladesh, Rapid Action Battalion and police tried to convince the opposition men to remove the blockade from the busy highway.

But the agitators locked into the clash with the policemen around 10:40am after BGB and Rab personnel left the scene.

Police fired several gunshots and dispersed them when the activists hurled brick chips and blasted five cocktails targeting the law enforcers.

After the clash, around 50 ruling Awami League men brought out a procession in police presence in the area.

NAYAPALTAN

Opposition men blasted a crude bomb near BNP central office at Nayapaltan around 11:15am.

In retaliation, police fired seven to eight gunshots in the air, report our correspondent from the spot.