Rajshahi: Law enforcement forces are on 48-hour siege alert in Rajshahi. BNP and like-minded political alliances and parties have started the fourth phase of this blockade program.
This blockade program which started from 6 am on Sunday (November 12) will continue till 6 am next Tuesday (November 14). Therefore, maximum vigilance is being adopted in Rajshahi around the blockade. However, no major untoward incident was reported till 2.30 pm on Sunday.
In the morning, Jamaat-e-Islami and Chhatra Shibir took out a protest march in support of the blockade on Shubo Petrol Pump Road in Shiroil of the metropolis, avoiding the eyes of the law enforcement agencies. At one stage they tried to block the road by breaking bricks. After getting the news, the police chased and dispersed everyone. At that time, the leaders and activists fled, but three people were arrested from there. Besides, no major untoward incident was reported anywhere else throughout the day.
Awami League organized a day-long peace march and development rally from 10 am to protest the blockade of BNP-Jamaat in various areas of Rajshahi metropolis. First, a peace march and development rally was held at Sahebbazar Zero Point in the metropolis.
Rajshahi Metropolitan Awami League president and brave freedom fighter Mohammad Ali Kamal, Vice President Principal Shafiqur Rahman Badsha, Agriculture Affairs Secretary Mir Taufiq Ali Bhadu, Health and Population Affairs Secretary Dr. FMA Zahid, Member Atiqur Rahman Kalu, Boyalia (East) Thana Awami League General Secretary Shyamal Kumar Ghosh and Ward Awami League leaders and activists.
Since then the same program was conducted at Shaheed Kamaruzzaman Chatwar, Sagarpara Battalar Junction, Court Station, Kashiadanga Junction, Laxmipur Junction, C&B Junction, Shalbagan Junction, Naodapara Junction, Talaimari Junction, Bhadra Junction, Binodpur Bazar.
Meanwhile, traffic is normal in Rajshahi on the first day of the blockade today. As the day progressed, the presence of people increased on the main roads of the metropolis. The impact of the blockade was not noticed in urban areas.
No long distance bus including Dhaka has left from Shiroil bus terminal in Rajshahi metropolis today. However, inter-district bus service is normal. Besides, human haulers, CNG, private cars, microbuses, motorcycle rickshaws, battery operated auto rickshaws are plying on the road. As on other days, trains of various routes of Western Railway are leaving from Rajshahi railway station.
Jamirul Islam, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) Headquarters said that 33 people have been arrested for various crimes in the last 24 hours. Apart from this, the police have been deployed in the important roads and facilities of the metropolis since morning. However, no major untoward incident was reported till Sunday afternoon.
Bangladesh Time: 1621 hours, November 12, 2023
SS/AAT
