Violence, setting vehicles on fire and clashes with law enforcers left one person dead and several others injured on the first day of BNP-Jamaat’s three-day nationwide blockade today.
Md Refayet Ullah, 22, ward no 4 Chhatra Dal Vice-President of Chhoysuti union of Kuliarchar upazila under Kishoreganj district, was injured during a clash with police and later he succumbed to his injuries.
During the blockade, members of the law enforcement agencies, including Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), were deployed in the capital and other parts of the country to maintain law and order.
As the BNP-Jamaat imposed the blockade on highways, river routes and railways, and train routes witnessed an usual presence of commuters, while movements of trains and vessels were as usual.
But the highways witnessed poor vehicular movements as some of the long-route transport owners run their services.
According to our Narayanganj correspondent, BNP supporters locked in clashes with police in Araihazar upazila of the district in the morning when the police tried to resist the BNP-men from setting vehicles on fire and vandalizing those.
At least three police personnel were injured in the clash. One police suffered stab injuries.
As BNP activists were throwing brickbats and stones on cops, the police dispersed them by firing rubber bullets and teargas shells in Panchrukhi area of Araihazar.
Officer-in-Charge of Araihazar police station Ahsan Habib said BNP supporters attacked law enforcement agency members when police tried to bar them from blocking the roads.
“Now the situation is under control,” he said.
Our Kishoreganj correspondent reported that at least one man was killed and several others were injured in a clash between police and BNP supporters in Chhoysuti area of Kuliarchar upazila in Kishoreganj district.
Though BNP claimed that their two supporters were killed in the clash, but police confirmed the death of one.
The deceased were Chhoysuti union 4 no ward Chhatra Dal Vice-President Md Refayet Ullah, 22, and member of Krishak Dal of 5 no ward of the same union Md Billal Mia, 30.
Officer-in-Charge of Kuliarchar police station Md Golam Mostafa said police went on action to protect themselves as BNP supporters attacked the on-duty cops.
Kishoreganj Superintendent of Police Mohammad Rusel Sheikh confirmed death of one BNP activist and said it is yet to be confirmed how the youth died.
Ward Master of Bhagolpur Jahirul Islam Medical College Hospital Rokan Uddin said Refayet Ullah was taken to the hospital as he (Refayet) breathed his last before reaching the healthcare facility.
Besides, on duty doctor at emergency department of Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College Hospital Dr Kamrul Hasan said police took the body of Billal to the hospital.
