On the second day of the latest blockade yesterday, picketers from a sudden rally led by BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi in Dhaka were seen throwing brick chips at buses and other vehicles on the street.

According to video reports, around 30 picketers led by Rizvi can be seen marching on the street. They were shouting slogans against the announced schedule of the upcoming national election, slated for January 7, 2024.

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At one stage, the picketers sat on the street but vehicles including buses, cars and CNG-run auto-rickshaws kept moving in a sign of defiance to the blockade.

The picketers were then seen bringing a tyre and setting it on fire on the street, apparently to stop vehicular movement.

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But as vehicles continued to move on the other side of the street, they were seen throwing brick chips at them.

The incident widely reported by TV channels and media outlets stands in contrast with Rizvi’s denial of BNP’s involvement in any attack during the ongoing blockades, political observers say.

Just a day before, the BNP leader told media that AL could be carrying out acts of sabotage to divert public attention.

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Since October 28, the country has witnessed a spree of violence including arson attacks on streets and vandalisms, combined with attacks on police. A number of rights activists and minority community leaders expressed concern when BNP’s acting chief Tarique Rahman, from London, called his party cadres to decide the fate of the country “on the streets”. Minority leaders likened the call “an instigation for violence.”