Fresh 72-hr hartal from today

The BNP-led 20-party alliance yesterday called a fresh spell of 72-hour countrywide shutdown from today, protesting the “arrest” of BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed.

The shutdown, beginning at 6:00am today, will continue until 6:00am Wednesday, according to a press statement issued by BNP Joint Secretary General Barkatullah Bulu.

The BNP-led combine called the shutdown also to register its protest against “forced disappearance, killing, torture, abduction, and arrest of its leaders and activists”.

The declaration of the fresh spell of hartal came a day after the BNP chairperson said the ongoing anti-government movement would continue until it reached a “logical conclusion”.

The alliance has been enforcing hartal on all working days since February 1 on top of its countrywide indefinite blockade from January 6, demanding a fresh election under a non-party administration.

It relaxed hartal for 12 hours on March 12 for celebrating the Tigers' victory against England in the World Cup Cricket match.

At least 86 people have been killed and over a thousand injured so far in the ongoing political turmoil.

Meanwhile, stray incidents of violence and arson attacks on vehicles marked yesterday, the 68th day of the countrywide indefinite blockade.

In Dhaka, two people were injured in a crude bomb explosion in New Market area yesterday.

The victims Sadia Afrin, 32, and Abu Hanif, 35, were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, sources at the hospital said.

Criminals hurled several crude bombs in front of gate no 2 of New Market around 8:00pm, leaving the pedestrians injured.

In Cox's Bazar, at least four people suffered burn injuries in a petrol bomb attack on a bus in Chakaria upazila yesterday.

Criminals hurled a petrol bomb at the Chittagong-bound bus of Saudia Paribahan when it reached near Chakaria Degree College on the Chittagong-Cox's Bazar highway around 7:00pm, Nirupam Pal, a staff of the Paribahan told our Cox's Bazar correspondent.

Masud Alam, assistant superintendent of police in Cox's Bazar, said the bus skidded off the road after the driver lost control over the wheels following the attack.

“Criminals hurled petroleum-like substance at the bus, leaving four passengers injured,” the police official added.

The victims were admitted to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital and Chakaria Upazila Health Complex.

In Barguna, criminals set fire to a BRTC bus in front of Sonia Cinema Hall in Sadar upazila yesterday, reports UNB.

Riaz Hossain, officer-in-charge of Barguna Sadar Police Station, said criminals torched the stationary bus on the Barguna-Jessore road around 4:00am.

On information, a firefighting unit rushed to the spot and doused the flame. However, no casualty was reported.

Meanwhile, Socheton Torun Projonmo, a pro-Awami League organisation, staged a demonstration in front of Khaleda Zia's Gulshan office yesterday, demanding immediate withdrawal of the ongoing nationwide blockade and hartal.

Around 100 activists of the organisation gathered in front of Khaleda's Gulshan office at about 11:30am and staged demonstration for 15 minutes. They also hung banners containing the photographs of the victims of arson attacks on the trees opposite to the office.