266 vehicles torched in BNP, Jamaat blockades as attackers still shrouded in mystery
Syed Shemul Parvez :
The facts still remain shrouded in mystery regarding the ongoing arson attacks as valuable transports, mostly passenger buses and trucks are being torched one after another during hartal and blockade programme called by the major BNP and its alliance in the capital and elsewhere in the countrydespite unprecedented security measures taken by law enforcers
Though police are arresting the leaders and activists of the main opposition party BNP on charge of sabotage but the question has risen among the common people about who are actuaaly behind the ongoing arson attacks as the real culprits are still out of reach.
It is to be noted at least 26 people, including 20 BNP activists, four of Bangladesh Jamaat e Islami supporters, a journalist and a policeman, were killed during the period. Over 25,000 people, including 20275 BNP men, have been arrested since Oct. 28.
With a view to making their on-going hartal as well as blockade a success, its supporters have reportedly intensified their street programmes.
Police are claiming that arson attacks on various transports including passenger buses across the country are being carried out by BNP-Jamaat activists.
According to the fire sources, unidentified miscreants have so far set fire to a total of 266 motor vehicles, mostly passenger’s buses and trucks during the countrywide hartal and blockade programmes across the country since October 28.
Besides, a bus helper named Nayeem was also killed after arsonists torched a passenger bus in Demra area of the capital on October 29.
Within the last 24 hours till on Thursday evening, a total of 12 motor vehicles were torched during the countrywide blockade.
According the Fire brigade headquarters media official Shajahan Sikder, the unidentified miscreants set fire to at least six motor vehicles in the capital while two in Gazipur, three in Chattogram and one in Sirajganj.
The torched vehicles include six buses, two covered vans, one truck and three pickup vans.
A total of 21 fire fighting units from different fire stations across the country took part in dousing the burning fire, fire sources said.
In the wake of such frequent arson attacks on different passenger buses during the hartal and blockade called the major BNP and its alliance, many commuters always try to avoid boarding the buses in panic.
Sources said, with the national election day drawing nearer, the supporters of the hartal as well as blockade have started intensifying their anti-government movement including violent demonstration and arson attack on different transports.
Many consider the arson attack on passenger buses during the hartal and blockade called by the major BNP and its alliance is cause panic.
When contacted deputy commissioner (DC) (media) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Faruq Hossain told The New Nation that like other law enforcement agencies, the DMP is also now in the city streets to tackle arson attacks.
Alongside uniform-police, a good number of plain-cloth detective police are also moving round the capital.
Police have caught at least 30 people red-handed while setting fire to different motor vehicles in the capital, the DC media added.
