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Violence mars blockade

Haroon Habib

All economic activities remain paralysed for the second day

— PHOTO: AP

CONFRONTATION: Bangladeshi riot police officers kick and baton-charge Opposition supporters during a rally in Dhaka on Monday.

DHAKA: The indefinite blockade in Bangladesh, being enforced by the Awami League-led 14-party Opposition combine continued for the second day on Monday, halting all modes of transportation in the country.

The capital city remained cut off from the rest of the country as road, rail and water transport remained snapped. Train services across the country also came to a grinding halt.

In Dhaka, at least one person was killed when a police truck ran over him and many were injured in police action. The clashes broke out when a group of policemen tried to disperse Awami League workers who were holding a rally. The angry workers set fire to the police van.

Action promised

Police burst tear gas shells and fired rubber bullets to control the mob.

The caretaker Government has promised action against police officials found responsible for any wrongdoing.

Reports from various parts of the country said many buses were damaged allegedly by pro-blockade activists while a good number of trains were stoned and halted.

Despite the police's stern warning against disruption of vehicle movement, Dhaka looked deserted for the second day.

Thousands of Opposition activists took to the streets of Dhaka and other towns asking Chief Election Commissioner Justice Aziz to quit. Officials said export-import trade through the Chittagong and Mongla seaports remained halted.

Meanwhile, the abrupt order issued on Sunday to deploy the army to deal with the protesters has drawn sharp reactions from political parties.

"We hope no one will use our national army with a political motive and conspire to put them face to face with the people", said Awami League general secretary Abdul Jalil. While the caretaker Government withdrew the controversial order on Monday, it said in a late night handout on Sunday, "Regarding the army deployment, the Government has decided that the troops might be deployed after taking into consideration the situation. Since no such situation has arisen, the decision to deploy the army has not been taken".

One of the advisers to the Government, Lt. Gen. Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, has termed Sunday's order a "major mistake" over a very sensitive issue" and defended its cancellation.

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