Another Round Of BNP Blockade Underway

Another road-rail-waterways blockade, called by Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies in the ongoing movement was underway across the country on Tuesday (December 12) morning.

The 36-hour blockade is meant to protest at the schedule for the next national election announced by the Election Commission.

This is the 11th blockade called by BNP and some other opposition parties since October 31.

The blockade began at 6:00am on Tuesday and will end at 6:00pm on Wednesday (December 13).

The presence of public transport and commuters on Dhaka streets seemed normal, despite tension and fear of arson attacks.

Meanwhile, arsonists set two buses on fire in Dhaka’s Tikatuli and Mohammadpur areas on Monday night.

Police arrested two people while they were escaping after setting the bus of Midline Paribahan on fire at about 8:30pm, said Mohammadpur Police Station officer-in-charge Tofazzal Hossain.

Law enforcers were seen patrolling the streets and remained deployed at several important points of Dhaka.

Vehicles of media outlets, ambulances and vehicles transporting oxygen cylinders and medicines remain out of the purview of the blockade.

BNP and some other opposition parties are observing blockades to press home their demand for the resignation of the Awami League government and holding the next election under a non-partisan administration.