S M Mizanur Rahman :
Apart from non-stop blockade, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led 20-party alliance’s 36-hour nationwide hartal from today (Sunday) morning triggered panic among the people as the petrol bomb attack involve sudden feelings of terror that strike without warning.
A sense of dread has started gripping the people in capital Dhaka and elsewhere across the country as the terrors choose midnight to launch petrol bomb attack on transports during the ongoing indefinite blockade programme.
At least 40 people sustained serious burn injuries in a single night as blockaders hurled petrol bombs targeting passenger buses in capital Dhaka, Rajshahi and Bogra on Friday.
The criminals in the name of blockade programmes continued to launch deadly petrol bomb attacks targeting the passenger buses and goods-laden trucks just before or after the midnight in capital Dhaka, other metropolitan cities and towns and roads and highways. Apart from buses and trains, the blockaders on Saturday hurled five crude bombs targeting a Dhaka-bound passenger launch named MV Bangalee at about 4:00pm near Jhalakathi Bridge. They hurled the crude bombs from the Bridge while the launch crossing under it. The steamer roof was partially damaged in the attack.
The blockade supporters launched arson attack on a passenger launch named Tipu-6 at Sadarghat Launch terminal in the city. The launch was anchored at the terminal.
Mohammad Humayun, a traffic inspector, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority confirmed the incident saying the fire gutted a cabin of the launch.
In the last 20 days at least 35 people were killed and a number of people sustained serious burn injuries. And about 50 people who received serious burn injuries are struggling to survive at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.
A deadly petrol bomb attack launched by blockade supporters on a passengers’ bus left at least 29 people seriously injured on Demra Road in Jatrabarhi’s Mollar Bridge in the city. Most of the passengers got their faces and necks burnt and suffered inhalation injuries.
Besides, over 11 people, including three women and two children, sustained severe burn wounds as blockade supporters launched arson attack on three other passenger buses in Rajshahi and Bogra.
Although a core committee comprising home ministry officials and heads of law enforcement and intelligence agencies formed to contain law and order within a week, there is no sign of improvement rather deteriorated.
Talking to The New Nation on Saturday, State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal termed Friday night’s petrol bomb attack on a passenger bus as a stray incident saying by launching terror attack on innocent people like militants BNP Chairman Khaleda Zia would not be able to get any benefit.
“Our first target is to check attacks and ensure free movement of people. We are also working to arrest those involved in the recent arson attacks and killings,” he said.
Meanwhile, the 20th day of the indefinite blockade programme passed off Saturday amid stray incidents of violence and petrol bomb attack across the country.
In Capital Dhaka, the blockade supporters set a private car ablaze and exploded 16 crude bombs in the city’s Malibagh and Shyamoli yesterday afternoon.
According to witnesses a group of 15-20 people brought out a procession in front of Malibagh Safena General Hospital around 4:30 pm and blasted 8-10 crude bombs at that time.
Sub-inspector Moniruzzaman of Ramna Police Station said police recovered two live bombs near the hospital after the explosion and disposed those. Earlier, miscreants blasted six crude bombs and torched a private car in Shyamoli area around 4:15pm.
In Narayanganj, the blockade supporters set fire to a Dhaka-bound passenger bus near Kashipur area under Fatullah police station in the district yesterday afternoon.
The local caught three of the blockaders red handed while they pouring petrol on Dhaka-Narayanganj-Munshiganj high way put up barricade and launched arson attack on running vehicles. They also vandalised the bus.
The local people chased the blockaders and captured Shehab, 24, Mahmud, 26, and Sayeed, 23, with petrol. Later, they were handed over to the Fatullah Model Police Station.
In Chittagong, a group of unidentified miscreants set fire to a goods-laden covered van near Chittagong Port Republican Club at about 9:00 am on Saturday.
In Chandpur, blockade supporters torched a private car in the town yesterday. The blockaders waylaid the private car carrying two Saudi expatriates from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka by putting logs at Ghoserhat on Chandpur-Comilla road around 1:00am.
They pulled the passengers out of the car forcibly and set the vehicle on fire by pouring petrol, said Abdul Kaiyum, Officer-in-Charge of Chandpur Sadar Model Police Station.
Our Barisal Correspondent adds: Blockaders launched arson attack on poultry feed-laden truck leaving its driver Shafiuddin, 45, and helper Rubel, 20, inured on Friday night.
Our Chapainawabganj Correspondent reports: A driver and his helper received serious burn injuries in a bomb attack on Chapainawabganj-Amnura road at Amunra Nayanagar in sadar district. The injured were identified as Nasib Ali and Harunur Rashid.
