Dear All.
Current situation : The 3rd day of the 72-hour nationwide strike along with nonstop blockade program enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance is progressing peacefully today.
Nagorik Samaj, a platform of civil society members, yesterday sent three letters to the president, the prime minister and the BNP chairperson, requesting them to take initiatives for holding a national dialogue to resolve the ongoing political crisis. The letters were signed by former chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda on behalf of the platform.
Long-haul buses will stay off the road after 9pm until further notice amid the ongoing BNP-sponsored blockade in which hundreds of vehicles have been damaged across Bangladesh. Transport owners accepted the government’s decision on the matter on Monday at a meeting presided over by State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in Dhaka. Arson attacks on buses and trucks on highways have killed at least 68 people since Jan 5 when BNP chief Khaleda Zia called the indefinite blockade.Monday’s decision comes after a series of arson attacks on highways despite police and BGB patrol.
Perpetrators of ongoing violence will be punished in six months, says law minister. He made the statement at a discussion at Dhaka’s Dhanmondi on Monday amid deaths of over 50 people in violence during BNP-sponsored blockade since early January. The minister said: “Many people are asking if those who are now committing acts of terrorism will be tried 10 years later. God willing, we’ll ensure their punishment in six months through trials.”
Ministers yesterday urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to take necessary steps immediately to stop the ongoing violence through formulating a new law, if necessary.The ministers came up with the call during yesterday’s regular cabinet meeting at the secretariat with the prime minister in the chair. The ministers made the call as the ongoing political violence across the country has so far claimed 68 lives and injured many others. Scores of vehicles have also been torched during the 35-day span of the indefinite blockade being enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance, the ministers told the premier during the meeting.
The new US ambassador in Dhaka is appalled at the way people are being killed in political violence in Bangladesh during the ongoing blockades. “It’s absolutely painful,” Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat bemoaned on Monday while meeting the State Minister for foreign affairs Md Shahriar Alam at the foreign ministry. Bernicat landed in Dhaka on Jan 25 amid a turbulent political situation.The US deplored bus bombings, train derailments in a statement and said there is “simply no justification” for such actions in a democratic Bangladesh
Vehicles are out on the streets of Dhaka quite normal but long distance buses have been grounded during shutdown. Launch and rail services, however, remained normal.
Government has taken stringent security measures to avoid any untoward incidents during the shutdown, deploying large contingents of police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Bangladesh Border Guards (BGB) at different strategic points of the city.
We talked with our expat & national in Bibiyan gas plant, Sylhet. They informed us that they traveled to the Chevron sites with violence escalated by Chevron’s security team early this morning around 5:50 am without any issues. I am closely monitoring the situation & update you accordingly.
SMS from Dhaka Security Control Room (DSCR) of Chevron Bangladesh to all employees:
1. Dear All, 3rd day of nationwide 72hrs hartal along with nonstop blockade program called by BNP led 20 party alliance is going on. Please remain aware and vigilant. (Time 7:00 am) FYI-DSCR.