Staff Reporter :The indefinite blockade called by the BNP-led 20-party alliance passed 50th day on Monday raising the toll of deaths to 107 in arson attacks and other violence across the country. According to police and other sources, apart from the deaths, some 1173 vehicles, including passenger buses and goods laden trucks, were either torched or vandalized by blockade supporters during the last 50 days since January 5.Of the deaths, about 58 people were killed in petrol bomb attacks, 34 in police firing, 15 in clashes and 28 in other incidents. Besides, over 300 people received burn injuries in petrol bomb attacks so far. Of them, 131 people were admitted to burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital where the condition of over 50 persons is stated to be critical. Not only that, the blockaders also tried to create panic among people by hurling crude bombs and cocktails at crowded places and passenger vehicles.The railway faced a series of acts of sabotage allegedly carried out by the 20-party alliance activists during the aforesaid period. They removed fishplates, uprooted tracks and set fire to rail lines to disrupt the services. At the same time, the blockaders also hurled petrol bombs targeting the passenger carrying coaches.The riverine vessels were also come under the attack of petrol bomb throwers. About 20 launches were set ablaze or firebombed by the blockers in a bid to disrupt water communication. However, around 10 thousand hartal and blockade supporters including some senior leaders were arrested in the last 50 days for their alleged involvement in arson and petrol bomb attacks.BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia called the indefinite blockade from January 6 as the government did not allow her party and its allies to hold protest rallies in the capital on January 5. Since then she (Khaleda Zia) has been residing inside her Gulshan party office.Meanwhile, yesterday was also the second day of fresh 72-hour nationwide hartal alongside the blockade that passed off amid incidents of arson attack and vandalism. Presence of motorised vehicles was almost normal on the city streets. A large number of law enforcers remained deployed in different parts of the capital to fend off any trouble.In capital city Dhaka, blockade and hartal supporters set fire on a passenger bus in front of the Petrobangla Bhaban at Karwan Bazar at about 12:51pm in city. In Kalabagan area, members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested three persons identified as Abdul Kadir, 30, Nur Islam, 30 and Monir Hossain 31, and recovered 18 crude bombs from their possession on Sunday night.In a press briefing at RAB-2 office on Monday, Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel SM Masud Rana said on Sunday evening that they arrested Abdul Kadir while he was hurling crude bombs in front of Gastro Liver Hospital in the city’s Pantha Path area. “On the basis of information extracted from Abdul Kadir, the RAB members raided the Kalabagan area and arrested the two others and recovered 18 crude bombs from their possession,” the RAB official.He added the arrested persons were involved in hurling crude bombs on vehicles in the city in exchange of money.Besides, eight leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat-Shibir arrested from different parts of the city on charge of ‘sabotage plan’ during a drive continuing for 24 hours till yesterday morning.Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Deputy Commissioner (Media) Masudur Rahman said the eight people were arrested for planning subversive activities.In Sirajganj, leaders and workers of BNP brought out processions at Sirajganj sadar and Ullapara areas. Besides, police arrested 10 activists of BNP-Jamaat from Enayetpur upazila of the district. In Rajshahi, police arrested three activists of Jamaat-Shibir from Puthiya upzila in the district for planning subversive activities. In Bola, police arrested two activists of BNP while they took out procession in Mahazanpatti area in the morning.In Feni, police arrested three BNP activists including general secretary of Fulgazia BNP unit. In Sunamganj, leaders and workers of BNP and its associate bodies staged demonstration.
