The blockade is being enforced by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its political allies, Jamaat-e-Islami to mount pressure on the Sheikh Hasina led Awami League  government to quit and hold the next election which is due in January, 2024 under a non-party, neutral administration.

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said at a press conference that the blockade programme would be observed until 6:00am on Tuesday across the country.

More than 15 buses were set on fire in different places across the country including capital Dhaka between Saturday 7:00 pm and Sunday 6:30am, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence.

On the first day of blockade, the public transport facility was very sparse and all the inter-district buses were almost off the roads due to a lack of passengers and a fear of arson. In Dhaka, most of the passengers were seen using CNG-run auto-rickshaws, motorcycles, and rickshaws. People refrain from using public buses as they were the easy targets for the agitators on roads last week.

Due to disrupted transport lines with the other parts of the county, scarcity of essential commodities is increasing in the capital and in other divisional cities.

The leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League and its associated bodies were also taking positions at different spots in the capital, holding brief rallies, and bringing out processions. 

Heavy presence of law enforcement agencies were seen patrolling on roads and important public buildings. A total of 228 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed across the country to help law enforcers maintain law and order on the second day of the 48-hour countrywide blockade, said Shariful Islam, public relations officer (PRO) at BGB. 

Photo Courtesy: Daily Star

Navalsang Parmar/Akashwani News/Dhaka/06.11.2023