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13 vehicles burnt, 200 smashed
[Bangla Daily Star] Agitated leaders and workers of BNP-led 18-party alliance vandalised around 200 vehicles and dozens of establishments across the country yesterday, ahead of today's nationwide dawn-to-dusk hartal.... a peculiarly Bangla combination of a general strike and a riot, used by both major political groups in lieu of actual governance ... Scores were also injured in festivities between the alliance activists and law enforcers. The activists had blockaded roads and brought out processions protesting the court order that sent opposition leaders to jail. A Dhaka court yesterday sent 33 leaders of 18-party alliance, including BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, to jail rejecting their bail petition in a case filed in connection with torching a vehicle near the Prime Minister's Office during April 29 shutdown. Since yesterday afternoon, at least 13 vehicles were torched in Dhaka. Of them, four buses were set ablaze in Mirpur, one in Rajarbagh, one in Karwan Bazar, one on Panthapath, two pick-up trucks in Rampura, a taxi on Elephant Road and two buses and a car in Savar, on the outskirts of the capital. Several people including pro-BNP lawyers and 18-party leaders and workers, and journalists sustained injuries in the capital when agitated activists clashed with law enforcers in and around the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court. In Thakurgaon town, BNP activists vandalised several banks and business establishments and at least 100 vehicles, including police vans, buses, microbuses, cars and  cycle of violences, reports our correspondent.An hour after the violence, when police took position at Thakurgaon Chourasta (intersection), BNP activists engaged in a clash with the law enforcers. Twelve people, including three coppers, were maimed in the clash. Law enforcers had to lob 30 to 40 teargas canisters and shoot rubber bullets to calm the situation down, said Thakurgaon police. The activists also snatched the camera of Partha Sarothi, district correspondent of Mohona Television, while he was shooting the violence. Police locked away Book 'im, Mahmoud! 11 people until 5:15pm, said acting superintendent of police Belayet Hossain. Posted by: Fred 2012-05-17 |
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