The drivers of battery-powered rickshaws suspended their blockade for two days till Saturday to realise their demands. Giving a two-day ultimatum, they threatened that they would go for tougher movement if their demands are not met within the timeframe. Md Russell, officer-in-charge of Banani police station, said that the auto-rickshaw drivers left the city streets in Mohakhali area around 4pm allowing traffic to run several hours after clutches. Jynul Abedin, officer-in-charge of Kamala Railway Police Station, said the train movement resumed with Dhaka and parts of the country around 4:10pm after the protesters removed the trail tracks in the Mohakhali area. Earlier, on Thursday morning, the auto-rickshaw drivers blocked roads in different parts of the capital protesting a ban on their movement on city streets. The roads include Mohakhali, Basila Dhaka Uddyan, Mirpur-10, Mirpur-12, Kazipara, Shewrapara and Mirpur Golchattar and Agargaon areas of the capital. Commuters experienced gridlock in different parts of the capital following the blockade programme. Besides, the train communication between Dhaka and other parts of the country got snapped as the protesting drivers blocked the rail tracks in Mohakhali area at the same time, causing immense sufferings to travellers. Read: DNCC drive in Mirpur removes battery-powered rickshaws from main roads Meanwhile, a huge crowd was seen on the metro rail as people gathered in metro rail stations to reach their respective destinations due to the sudden chaos on the streets of the capital. On Tuesday, the High Court ordered halting plying of battery-run rickshaws in Dhaka city within three days. Protesting the HC order, they staged demonstrations in Mohakhali, Mirpur, Shewrapara and Kazipara areas, halting vehicular movement. Nearly, 10 lakh rickshaws are moving in Dhaka city and a large portion of which is battery-powered. Many old pedal-driven rickshaws are being fitted with batteries to make them mechanical.

Workers in Gazipur staged demonstrations on Thursday, blocking the busy Chandra-Nabinagar Highway to press home demands that include compensation for injured colleagues, improved safety measures, and unpaid wages. The blockade caused severe traffic disruptions, leaving commuters stranded and forcing vehicles to take alternative routes. The protest was triggered by an accident on Wednesday near the That’s It knitwear factory of the Hamim Group in Zirani. Three factory workers were injured when a bus ran them over. In response, workers took to the streets early Thursday morning, demanding compensation for the injured, construction of a flyover in the area to prevent future accidents, and resolution of ongoing mismanagement issues in the factory. These demands are part of a broader 11-point charter presented by the workers. Meanwhile, workers from Beximco Industrial Park staged a separate demonstration on the same highway, demanding payment of one month's overdue wages. This marks the sixth consecutive day of protests by these employees. Traffic chaos in Dhaka as battery-run rickshaw drivers block streets The highway blockade caused significant hardship for commuters and local residents. Many vehicles were forced to take the Dhaka-Tangail Highway and the Dhamrai-Kaliakair regional road as alternatives. Despite these routes being available, the disruption created congestion across the area. Industrial police and army personnel arrived at the scenes to mediate and persuade workers to vacate the highways. Efforts to restore normal traffic flow were ongoing as of Thursday afternoon.

The latest 24-hour road-rail-waterway blockade, called by BNP, is underway across Bangladesh with reports of arson attacks. Dhaka is witnessing usual traffic this morning despite the blockade. Commuters were seen going to their respective destinations in a rush while activities at government and private offices were going on as usual. 24-hour blockade: 428 RAB patrol teams deployed Many students with guardians are going to their respective schools for their final exams. A bus of Turag Paribahan was set on fire by miscreants at Dholaipar in Shyampur area of Dhaka at 5:30 am. A total of 428 patrol teams of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have been deployed across the country to maintain law and order during the ongoing 24-hour rail, road and waterways blockade called by BNP. BNP to enforce blockade Wednesday, hartal Thursday BNP called for a daylong blockade today and a daylong hartal on Thursday to protest the schedule for the next national election announced by the Election Commission (EC). Party's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi came up with the announcement at a virtual press briefing on Monday. Rizvi said the programmes are also meant to mount pressure on the government to quit, hold the next election under a non-party neutral government, and release BNP leaders and activists, including its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. 230 BGB platoons deployed on day 2 of blockade

To maintain law and order across the country during the ongoing 48-hour road, rail and waterways blockade, a huge number of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel have been deployed. According to a media release issued by BGB headquarters, a total of 232 platoons of BGB have been deployed across the county. 231 BGB platoons deployed across country on day 2 of hartal Meanwhile, a total of 432 patrol teams of Rab have been deployed across the country to resist untoward incidents during the blockade. Besides, the elite force is also overseeing the security of buses and goods-carrying vehicles on the long routes during the blockade. The intelligence teams are also keeping vigil on bus stands, train stations and other important places to prevent violence and sabotage. 235 BGB platoons deployed across the country as hartal starts

Police foiled a sabotage attempt of miscreants to derail a train in Fatullah on Dhaka-Narayanganj route, ahead of the latest 48-hour road-rail-waterway blockade across Bangladesh called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties. Mokhlesur Rahman, sub-inspector of Narayanganj Government Railway Police, said miscreants attached a heavy iron plate to the rail line at Kotolerbagh in an attempt to derail the train. Locals first noticed it and informed police through the national emergency number 999. 562 arrested by RAB on charges of sabotage since Oct 28 On information, police rushed to the spot and removed the iron plate from the rail line. Police are trying to arrest those involved in the sabotage attempt, he said. RAB arrests 4, including Sramik Dal leader, from Dhaka's Jatrabari in sabotage case

A 48-hour hartal — called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties — protesting the general election schedule announced by the Election Commission (EC) is underway from this morning (November 19, 2023) amid fear of violence. This is the first hartal being observed by the opposition parties since the EC announced the polls schedule. BNP, Jamaat and other opposition parties called the hartal after they had earlier observed five countrywide blockades of roads, rail and waterways. The blockades were marked by frequent burning of vehicles, particularly buses, in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country. The presence of law enforcement personnel at several points in Dhaka is higher today compared to the previous blockades. Read more: 'Scrap polls schedule, create atmosphere for fair election first': BNP Number of public transport on Dhaka streets was fewer than that during the blockades. Many were seen heading towards their destinations on foot amid heightened tension and fear of violence. Rickshaws are dominating Dhaka streets while a few private vehicles are on the road. Unidentified arsonists set seven vehicles on fire, including a passenger train, in Dhaka and across the country between 7 pm last night and 6 am today, ahead of the 48-hour countrywide hartal. Three buses were torched in the capital’s Gulistan, Dhanmondi and Mirpur areas last night. Read more: Jatiya Party to decide on joining or boycotting polls within a couple of days:Chunnu One bus each in Cumilla and Chattogram and a pickup van in Joypurhat were also set on fire ahead of the hartal. Arsonists set three compartments of ‘Jamuna Express’ train on fire in Sarishabari upazila of Jamalpur early today. Miscreants exploded three crude bombs in front of the residence of Dhaka University vice chancellor last night, spreading panic among students. At a press briefing yesterday, BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi called upon people from all walks of life and opposition leaders and activists to observe the hartal peacefully and make it a success. Read more: 12th JS election: Shakib buys AL nomination forms for 3 different constituencies

Another 48-hour blockade, called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties to press home their one point demand, began this morning (November 15, 2023) with traffic movement on the streets. The latest blockade started at 6 am today and will end at 6 am on Friday. Dhaka city is witnessing an increase in vehicular movement and commuters on the streets. People were seen rushing to their respective destinations. Rickshaws are dominating the city roads. 48-hour blockade: Two buses set ablaze in Gazipur Earlier on Tuesday, miscreants set four buses on fire in Dhaka’s Mirpur area ahead of the blockade called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties. Meanwhile in Chattogram city, Awami League and its associate bodies will hold peace rallies at 19 points against BNP-Jamaat’s blockade. The points include Darul Fazal Market premises, Kathgarh, Saltgola crossing, Badamtoli, Bohaddarhat, Naya Bazar, AK Khan, City Gate, Wasa, Muradpur, Kaptai Road, Oxygen, Aman Bazar, Moti Tower, Bakolia Access Road, Natun Bridge, Andorkilla and Dewanhat intersection. After a pause for a day, BNP and like-minded opposition parties called yet another 48-hour countrywide road-rail-waterway blockade beginning from Wednesday to mount pressure on the Awami League government to quit power and hold the next election under a non-partisan administration. 228 BGB platoons deployed to beef up security across the country amid BNP-Jamaat's 48hr blockade BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programme at a virtual press briefing on Monday afternoon. BNP and other opposition parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, have been enforcing blockades across the country since Oct 31. BNP’s like-minded parties announce fresh 48-hour blockade from Wednesday

On average, more than nine arson attacks have been reported across Bangladesh every day between October 28 and November 13, Fire Service and Civil Defense said today (November 14, 2023). "A total of 154 arson attacks were reported across the country during this period, leaving 5 people injured,” said Talha Bin Jashim, station officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence's media cell. Of these, 82 arson attacks were in Dhaka city, he added. Read: Fire Service records 9 arson attacks in the country in 10 hrs According to the fire service, out of 154 arson attacks across the country, 116 incidents occurred in Dhaka division, 14 in Chattogram, 9 in Rajshahi, 6 in Barishal, 6 in Rangpur, 2 in Khulna and 1 in Mymensingh division. No arson attacks were reported in the Sylhet division during this period. A total of 94 buses, 3 microbuses, 2 private cars, 8 motorcycles, 13 trucks, 8 covered vans, 1 ambulance, 2 pickup trucks, 2 CNG-run autorickshaws, 1 human hauler, 1 Laguna, 1 fire service water truck, 1 police van, 5 BNP offices, 1 Awami League office, 1 police box, 1 councilor office, 2 electricity offices, 1 bus counter, and 2 showrooms were burnt during this time, according to fire service. Read: Two passenger buses set on fire in Dhaka on eve of fresh 48-hr blockade According to the statistics, the highest, 29, arson attacks happened on October 28. Analyzing the incidents, the fire service found that there were more arson attacks during the night (6 pm to 6 am) compared to daytime. Between October 28 and November 13, 61 fire incidents occurred during the day and 93 during the night.

After giving a pause for a day, the BNP and like-minded parties will again enforce a 48-hour countrywide road-rail-waterway blockade beginning from Wednesday (November 15, 2023) to mount pressure on the Awami League government to quit power and hold the next election under a non-partisan administration. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programme at a virtual press briefing on Monday afternoon. He said the other opposition parties, who have long been carrying out the simultaneous movement with BNP, also observe a similar programme. Read: BNP-Jamaat's blockade: 189 BGB platoons deployed across the country Rizvi said the blockade programme will be observed from 6am Wednesday to 6am Friday across the country. It will be the fifth phase of the blockade programme of the opposition parties. The BNP leader said their ongoing blockade was successful with the spontaneous support of the country’s people. He thanked the leaders and activists of BNP and like-minded parties to make the blockade programme a success. The fresh agitation was announced around 14 hours before the end of the opposition’s 48-hour nationwide blockade that was enforced at 6am on Sunday. The ongoing blockade has been marked by widespread incidents of violence, including torching and vandalising vehicles. Read: The ones bearing the brunt of blockades BNP and other opposition parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, have been enforcing blockades across the country in fourth phases since Oct 31. They also observed a nationwide dawn-to-dusk hartal on Oct 29 in protest against the attacks on BNP’s grand rally at Nayapaltan that ended amid the incidents of torching vehicles and clashes, leaving three people dead. Half an hour into the start of BNP's much-talked-about grand rally at Nayapaltan on October 28, BNP leaders and workers locked in a clash with the ruling party activists and police at Kakrail. Soon violent clashes spread around Nayapaltan, foiling the rally midway. Read more: Day 2 of 4th blockade called by BNP, Jamaat underway

A total of 189 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed across the country to maintain law and order as the fourth countrywide blockade called by the BNP, Jamaat and likeminded opposition parties is underway. Shariful Islam, public relations officer (PRO) at BGB headquarters, confirmed the development this morning. Read: 152 BGB platoons deployed across the country amid BNP-Jamaat's latest blockade  Today, on the second day of the 48-hour blockade, 25 BGB platoons were deployed in Dhaka and adjoining districts to avoid any untoward incident. Moreover, an adequate number of BGB personnel were kept on standby to promptly respond to any emergency in the country, he added. Like the previous blockades, members of the frontier battalion have been performing their duties alongside police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Ansar to ensure public safety and security in Dhaka and other parts of the country. Read: Two passenger buses set on fire in Dhaka on eve of fresh 48-hr blockade  For the third week, BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties have called a countrywide blockade of roads, rail lines, and waterways to press home their one-point demand ahead of the national election. A total of three arson attacks were reported in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Savar on Sunday night.