Slack blockade disrupts Dhaka life

Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, one of the busiest roads in the capital, seems comparatively vacant on Tuesday, first day of opposition's fresh 72-hour blockade programme. Photo: STAR

Yet another spell of countrywide blockade is here and the people of the capital find their normal life disrupted as businesses remain shut, public vehicles off the roads, shopping malls padlocked and education hampered.

Among the top hardest-hit people, uncertainty looming large on the fate of poor and day-labourers as they could not came out for work due to the prevailing political turmoil.

No remarkable violence was reported in the city during the 72-hour long blockade of roads, rail and waterways called by BNP-led 18-party alliance that has started from 6:00am this morning. The blockade will continue till Friday 6:00am.

Earlier this morning, few activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, brought out a brisk procession at Boubazar area of capital's Rampura, tried to vandalise vehicles, reports Bangla daily Prothom Alo.

The activists escaped as the law enforcers chased them.

The law enforcers rounded up four Shibir activists from the spot, said Ashraf-uz-Zaman, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Motijheel Zone).

Pro-blockade activists also blasted several crude bombs in Khilkhet area this morning, media reports said.

Huge contingents of police and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) were deployed at all the key points of the capital to maintain law and order during the blockade hours.

The presence of vehicles including buses and CNG-run three-wheelers was thin on the usually-clogged thoroughfares of Dhaka.

Most of the private car owners preferred to keep their vehicles in garages, fearing arson attack and vandalism.

The shutters of shopping malls and roadside shops remained down. Schools also remained closed.

Rickshaws were seen more than the previous blockades on the city thoroughfares.

Earlier, the recently passed opposition-called blockade, demanding cancellation of the polls schedule and election under non-party government, ended at 6:00am on Friday.