Staff Reporter :Several bombs were exploded at Gulshan-2 in the city on Monday when a procession led by Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan was going to besiege the office of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. As the procession reached near Metropolitan Shopping Mall, unidentified miscreants hurled at least five crude bombs, leaving seven people injured. Shajahan Khan, however, escaped unhurt.One of the injured whose identity was not known immediately suffered splinter injuries and also a fracture on his leg following the blast. He was rushed to a hospital in Gulshan area. Four other victims were identified as Delwar Hossain, Babul Ahmed, Motaleb and Obaidul. They are activists of Bangladesh Awami Muktijoddha Projonmo League and other front bodies of the ruling Awami League. Three of the injured were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Soon after the incident, a joint team of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police conducted a drive inside Metropolitan Shopping Plaza, as it was suspected that the bombs were hurled from the rooftop of the market or a nearby building. But some locals suspected that some processionists were carrying the crude bombs and hurled those taking the advantage of relaxed mood of the law enforcing agencies. One of the protesters lost his leg in the blast. Some suspected that he was carrying the bomb in his pocket but it went off accidentally. Following the blast, pro-Awami League men vandalised several shops in and around the shopping plaza.Several thousands people under the banner of ‘Sramik-Karmachari-Peshajibi-Muktijoddha Somonnoy Parishad’ began march from Gulshan-2 intersection, half kilometres away of Khaleda Zia’s office, to lay a siege to it. The programme was organised demanding arrest of the BNP chief and an end to violence in the name of hartal-blockade.Police intercepted the procession when it reached the entry point of Road No.86 of Gulshan-2. Khaleda Zia’s office is located on the road. Later, the protestors staged demonstration there holding placards, banners and festoons. They also chanted slogans against Khaleda Zia. Addressing the demonstration rally, Shajahan Khan said that they came to besiege Khaleda Zia’s office to give her a message that they will remain on the street if she doesn’t stop subversive acts in the name of hartal-blockade. He urged the government to take necessary steps to close the office in the diplomatic zone.The shipping minister warned that they would go for tougher programmes if the hartal-blockade and violence are not stopped immediately. He announced that they wound bring out a truck procession in the city on February 18 and another from Sapla Chattar to Central Shaheed Minar on February 19 if the hartal and blockade are not withdrawn by this time.He reiterated his demand of immediate arrest of BNP chairperson. “We request the Prime Minister to arrest Khaleda Zia. If the government doesn’t do it, people will arrest her and take her to Kashmipur Jail,” he said.The minister claimed that nearly 60 transport workers, including drivers and helpers, were killed by the hartal-blockade pickets in the one and a half months.Besides, activists of Mohila Awami League staged a demonstration near the Khaleda Zia’s office on the same issue. The Mohila League activists tried to gather in front of the office, but police resisted them. In face of police resistance, they staged the demonstration on the entry point of Road No.86Meanwhile, security measures were beefed around the office since morning deploying huge law enforcers.
