Another round of 48-hour blockade called as arson on

  Arson on roads continued on the last leg of a two-day countrywide blockade on Monday, with a fresh blockade announced for Wednesday and Thursday, even before the current one could end. 

The BNP is set to enforce a 48-hour countrywide road-rail-waterway blockade on the last two days of the week, with a pause today. Other like-minded opposition parties, including Jamaat and the Liberal Democratic Party, will observe the same programme. 

The political impasse shows no signs of breaking, as neither the ruling Awami League nor the opposition BNP is softening their positions ahead of the national election, expected to be held between 6 and 9 January.

While the BNP is waging a movement for ouster of the government and the next national polls under a neutral caretaker administration, the ruling Awami League maintains the election will be held on time and under the current government.  

According to the fire service, at least 21 arson incidents, including 12 in Dhaka city, occurred in the country between Sunday at 4am and Monday at 6 pm. A total of 16 buses, two trucks, one private car, one CNG-run auto-rickshaw, and one human hauler were torched during this period.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police announced a Tk20,000 reward for those who help them apprehend arsonists. 

DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman said, "If anyone can help police catch the miscreants with evidence, they will be given a Tk20,000 reward."

Meanwhile, a total of 102 cases have been filed against the leaders and activists of opposition parties in Dhaka city since 28 October. Police have so far arrested 1,554 people in these cases, according to DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) KN Niyoti Roy.

However, BNP Senior Joint Secretary-General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi claimed yesterday evening that 5,559 BNP leaders and activists have been arrested since 28 October. Among them, 275 BNP members were held across the country in the last 24 hours. 

He also mentioned that ten BNP leaders and activists, including a journalist, have been killed across the country in the last ten days.

The Jamaat also claims that the police arrested 96 of its activists in the last 24 hours, and since October 28, three of its party members have been killed, and 1,741 arrested.

Political turmoil has engulfed the country since October 28 when opposition demonstrations were marked by clashes, deaths and violence. 

The BNP had declared a nationwide shutdown for 29 October, and enforced a three-day blockade from 31 October to 2 November and with another phase from 5 to 6 November.

BNP-Jamaat processions

BNP's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi led a procession and sit-in in the capital yesterday. The procession set out from Pallima Sangshad in Taltala, Khilgaon at around 7:30am, with BNP leaders and activists blocking the adjacent roads.

Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists also held processions in parts of Dhaka yesterday, with rallies in various areas to observe the blockade.

Another top BNP leader arrested

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police detained BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu shortly after midnight on Sunday. 

In response to the arrest, the BNP alleged that police are unfairly detaining family members of BNP leaders, raiding their houses in different parts of the country. 

Their statement reads, "The police are raiding the houses of our leaders and activists at any time of the day and night to arrest them. When the targeted persons are not found at home, their fathers, brothers, or other family members are being unjustly detained."

Earlier on Sunday, the RAB arrested former home minister and BNP Vice Chairman Air Vice Marshal (retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury. BNP Vice-Chairman Barrister Shahjahan Omar Bir Uttam and BNP Organizing Secretary (Mymensingh division) Imran Saleh Prince were also apprehended by the police.

Senior leaders have been arrested and remanded recently in connection with political violence. Police have detained BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee Members Mirza Abbas, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, among other leaders.

Law enforcers active

A total of 228 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed across the country to maintain law and order amid the blockade. 

As in the first spell of the blockade, the personnel of the frontier battalion have been performing their duties alongside the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Ansar to ensure public safety and security in Dhaka and other parts of the country.

In addition, 460 patrol teams were deployed across the country to maintain law and order, said Imran Khan, assistant superintendent of police (ASP) at the media wing of the elite force