Staff Reporter :Another three persons were killed and around 60 injured and a number of vehicles were torched on Wednesday, the second day of countrywide indefinite blockade by BNP-led 20-party alliance.On Saturday BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia declared blockade programme protesting the government ban on holding meetings and rallies in the city. She (Khaleda) remained confined at her Gulshan party office for the fifth day on Wednesday as huge law enforcers were deployed in front of the office main gate.Except the workers of BNP and Jamaat no other leaders or workers of 20-party alliance were, however, seen on the streets. The leaders and workers of Jamaat were found more active on the streets than the major political party BNP during the blockade programme. The front ranking leaders of BNP refrained from taking to the streets to avoid arrest, according party insiders. As the situation remains volatile centering indefinite blockade the capital Dhaka still remains isolated from the rest of the country as long-route buses did not come out fearing attack from BNP-Jamaat pickets since Sunday. Train and launch services however remained normal.Meanwhile, BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi yesterday said the countrywide blockade would continue until their 20-party alliance takes a fresh decision in this regard. He came up with the announcement at a press briefing at a residence in Gulshan, hours after he had left a city hospital. Ismail Hossain, 60, of Jangidah village in Shahjadpur upazila was killed in an attack launched by pro-blockade BNP-Jamaat activists on Bogra-Nagarbari road in Ullahpara upazila in Sirajganj district and a trader and a pedestrian were shot dead at Begumganj in Noakhali district yesterday afternoon.However, except some stray incidents life was almost normal in capital Dhaka as educational institutions, shops, malls, public and private business establishments remained open while passenger buses, private cars, auto-rickshaws, rickshaws and other goods-laden vehicles were seen plying the city streets.Additional members of law enforcing agencies including para-military Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) forces and elite force Rapid Action Battalions (RAB) equipped with sophisticated firearms roamed the city streets as well different places in the country. Considering the prevailing situation yesterday the Home Ministry directed the Director General of Ansar and VDP to deploy 4000 members of Ansar and VDP at the vulnerable points at railway stations of 40 districts to thwart any destructive activities and provide security to the railway service.Daylong hartal, called by Rangpur division unit BNP protesting the arrest of acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir passed off amid stray incidents of violence and clashes. The eight districts are-Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh.Sylhet city unit of BNP on Wednesday called a day-long hartal in the city for today (Thursday) protesting the confinement of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and the arrest of its acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. In capital Dhaka, at least five passenger buses came under arson attack by the pro-blockade activists at Shewrapara, Tolarbagh in Mirpur -1, at Rampura TV Bhaban. Besides, the miscreants set fire on a passenger bus in front of national mosque Baitul Mokarram, and a pickup van at mid Badda.In Sirajganj, an auto-rickshaw passenger was killed in an attack by blockaders on Bogra-Nagarbari road in Ullahpara upazila on Wednesday during the transport blockade.Officer-in-charge of Ullahpara Model Police Station Tajul Huda said pickets threw brick chips at a CNG-run auto-rickshaw carrying Ismail near Shemolypara bus stand around 1pm, killing him on the spot. In Noakhali, a series of clashes between pro-blockade activists and cops left a trader and a pedestrian dead and at least 40 people injured in two separate places at Begumganj upazila and Noakhali sadar during blockade programme. In Begumganj, when around five thousands activists of BNP and Jamaat took out a procession from Chowmohni bazaar and started marching towards the railway station police barred them. The pickets, however, went bursek and ransacked at least 35 shops there. The agitators also pelted stones targeting the cops. As the situation took a serious turn, police swooped on them and started clubbing them. Police also fired several rounds of rubber bullets and lobbed tear shell to disperse the activists leaving at least 30 people injured. Chase and counter chase also took place during the period. Talking to The New Nation Additional Superintendent of Police ASM Ashrafuzzaman confirmed the death of a person saying the victim was a pedestrian.”I saw a body of a pedestrian in the hospital. But I’m not confirmed about the death of another person. During the clash at least six cops including a Sub-Inspector also received serious wounds,” replying to a query he added. In Noakhali sadar, a clash between police and pro-blockade activists left at least 10 people including two shop owners and a pedestrian injured at Maijdi Kollyan High School area. According witnesses, when a group of 20 pro-blockade activists were engaged in putting barricade there, they saw the members of law enforcing agencies coming there. Sensing the presence of law enforcers, they started throwing brickbat and stones. The cops later started firing gunshots and rubber bullets indiscriminately to disperse the agitators. In Gazipur, two buses of Shyamoli Paribahan were torched at the bus terminal around 1:00am, said police. No injuries were reported. Babul Hossain, manager of the passenger bus service, said unidentified people torched a bus which later spread to another parked vehicle. In Jessore, a sleeping helper Amir Mollah received burn injuries as pro-blockade torched a parked bus at Khajura Bus Stand around 4:00am, said police.He was admitted to Jessore Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Police detained 8 BNP men, Enamul Haque, officer-in-charge of Jessore Kotwali Police Station.In Chandpur, pro-blockade activists set fire on a motorbike at Hajigonj municipality area around 6:00am.Last night, a fierce clash ensued between supporters of ruling Awami League, BNP and police at Hajigonj municipality area around 8:00pm. At least 50 including 20 policemen were injured in the near four-hour clash in the area. In Jessore, a bus helper, who was sleeping inside a parked bus, suffered burn injuries as miscreants set fire to the bus at Khajura bus stand at Benapole in the district town.The injured was identified as Murad Mollah, 22, son of Towab Ali Mollah of sadar upazila of Magura district.
