Sylhet: Called by BNP and like-minded parties, the third phase of total blockade has started from Wednesday (November 8) morning. However, the blockade has no effect in Sylhet.
The leaders and activists of BNP and other parties are not in the field calling for a blockade.
In Sylhet, highways and regional roads have been running since morning. At the beginning of the day, the road is somewhat empty, but the traffic increases as the day progresses.
Law and order forces are on alert to prevent chaos and any kind of activity by the besiegers.
It has been seen on the ground that light and heavy vehicles are moving on different roads of the city since morning. Office-goers were seen rushing to work in public transport and private cars.
Due to the blockade, the educational institutions have stopped the scheduled vehicles. However, students were seen breaking the blockade and going to schools and colleges in public transport apart from the designated vehicles.
BGB and RAB members along with the police have been on the Sylhet-Dhaka highway since dawn and at various points in the city to keep the besiegers at bay.
The hartal-blockade that has been going on intermittently since October 28 has resulted in massive vandalism and arson, as well as chases and chases with the police and Chhatra League in Sylhet. A dozen cases have been filed against BNP-Jamaat activists in the district and metropolitan police stations. At least half a hundred activists have been arrested. Many are on the run fearing arrest.
On Monday afternoon, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the program again on Wednesday and Thursday in a virtual press conference. Sylhet BNP issued a statement on Tuesday calling on the activists and local public to make the program successful.
In support of the blockade, BNP workers were seen holding a torch procession at Mirabazar in the city on Tuesday night, but no activity was seen on the streets since Wednesday morning.
The Sylhet Metropolitan Police has said that the police are on high alert in the siege. If any kind of activity is seen anywhere, immediate action will be taken.
No disturbance was reported anywhere in the city till 9:30 am on Wednesday.
In protest of the attack on BNP’s mass meeting in Dhaka on October 28, the killing of leaders and activists, the arrest of thousands of leaders and activists of various protesting parties including BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, house-to-house searches, harassment and torture, a morning-evening hartal program was held across the country on October 29. Later, a 72-hour blockade program was observed from October 31 to November 2.
Bangladesh Time: 1005 hours, November 8, 2023
NU/RH
