What does blockade mean?

BLOCKADES were imposed by the opposition last November. Having completed five rounds of blockades for a total of twenty days, a non-stop blockade was enforced on January 1 to derail the election of January 5. On January 4, a hartal was superimposed on the blockade. The blockade and the hartal have been continuing even after the election.
We are familiar with the term hartal, but what does blockade mean? I looked into an online dictionary. It defines it as “an act or means of sealing off a place to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving.” As a matter of fact, blockade, a military term, is used by one country against another during a war.
It may be recalled that during the War of Independence in 1971, Indian navy blockaded all Pakistani ships carrying supplies and reinforcements for the Pakistan army stationed in Bangladesh. The Indian air force similarly enforced an air blockade to stop Pakistani supplies by air. Without getting any supply or reinforcement, the Pakistan army was crippled and forced to surrender on December 16, 1971.
In 1982, Argentina occupied the Falkland Islands, a British territory in the South Atlantic, claiming sovereignty over the islands. The British navy and air force engaged the Argentine forces and blockaded all enemy ships entering the islands. The trapped Argentine forces were thus forced to surrender. In history, there are numerous examples of similar blockades by warring countries, but is there any example of a blockade imposed by a political party against fellow civilian countrymen?
The blockades have essentially disrupted the chain of supply of essential commodities, including food, to the people of Bangladesh, restricted their movements and disrupted their normal lives. Countless innocent lives were lost. The economy of the country has been badly affected. According to an economist, the losses to the economy so far amount to Taka one trillion (one lac crore). The education system has been ruined. The country has been bleeding.
This looks like a virtual war. The people are wondering who has declared the war, against whom and for what purpose?  Who will be the victor or the vanquished in this war?

The writer is a former chief engineer of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.