12th blockade called by BNP, allies underway across Bangladesh

Desk News :: Jhenaidah district unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party bring out a procession in the district town supporting the daylong countrywide blockade, on Sunday. – Collected photo.

Another road-rail-waterways blockade, called by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies is underway across the country.

The daylong blockade is meant to protest the schedule for the next national election announced by the Election Commission.

It is the 12th such blockade programme called by the opposition parties since October 31, and the first since the announcement of BNP’s non-cooperation movement against the government on December 20.

The blockade began at 6:00am and will end at 6:00pm on Sunday.

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

Members of the law enforcement agencies were seen patrolling the streets and remained deployed at several important points of Dhaka.

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

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Meanwhile, unidentified arsonists set fire to three buses in Dhaka’s Gulistan, Mirpur and Kalabagan areas on Saturday night, on eve of the blockade.