Road, river links almost snapped

Two days ahead of opposition's March to Dhaka programme, most of the districts are almost de-linked from the capital as ruling party supported transport associations have stopped plying vehicles and water vessels towards Dhaka.

Awami League-backed Motor Chalok League called a two-day countrywide strike while Transport Labourers' Association enforced a two-day transport strike in 16 districts of Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna and Barisal divisions.

All Dhaka-bound passenger vessels from Barisal division stopped plying this evening.

Dhaka-bound launches from Barisal, Jhalakathi and Bhola were not allowed to leave the terminals, reports our district correspondents.

Seeking anonymity, leaders of Barisal Launch Owners' Association said law enforcers pressurised them to suspend the services ahead of Sunday's Dhaka march of the opposition.

A huge number of police and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members took position at the launch terminal in Barisal.

More than 10,000 people got off from four launches scheduled to leave Barisal for Dhaka this evening, reports our local correspondent.

In the same way, the law enforcers allegedly did not allow the launches to leave terminals in Jhalakathi and Bhola for the capital today.

However, neither the authorities nor the vessel owners agreed to make comment in this regard.