Shakir Ahmad :At least 52 vehicles were torched in Dhaka city last week during the nationwide indefinite transport blockade, enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance. Most of the vehicles were torched during evening to midnight. According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), the vehicles were torched at Tejgaon, Shahbagh, Merul Badda, Shanir Akhra and Jatrabari areas. Of the vehicles, there were 46 buses, said Dhaka District road transport Workers’ Union officials. Besides, three pickup vans, one private car, one Laguna and one CNG-run auto-rickshaw were also burnt.However, a good number of covered vans laden with export goods are now plying on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway under law enforcers’ protection. Md Ismail Hossain Bachchhu, general secretary of Dhaka District Road Transport Workers’ Union, told The New Nation on Sunday that city bus movement remained limited from evening to midnight fearing arson attack. Inter-city buses are operating from morning to afternoon, he said, adding that the owners have kept most long-route buses off the street fearing violence on the highways. Meanwhile State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has urged the transport owners to operate buses on the long-distance routes during the ongoing transport blockade. The Home boss also promised to compensate for any kind of damages to their vehicles. “The owners will get 50 percent compensation from government and rest from insurance companies.” The minister said.
