Bangladesh Nationalist Party, its partners in an ongoing anti-government simultaneous movement, and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami started observing a nationwide three-day blockade today (October 31) protesting “the killings of opposition activists during Saturday's grand rally and the arrests of opposition party leaders and activists.” 

However, the ruling Awami League and police vowed to challenge violent acts during the blockade programme.

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi earlier said that the complete blockade would be held on all types of communication ways until Thursday to press home their one-point demand for the immediate resignation of the ruling government.

The blockade will end on November 2.

Emergency services including ambulance, newspaper- and oxygen-carrying vehicles will remain out of the purview of the blockade.

Some educational institutions in the capital have already announced an unofficial closure. Some other institutions have informed guardians that classes will be held online.

Many institutions, however, said they will remain open.

The BNP started a simultaneous movement along with different parties and alliances on July 12 to demand the removal of the current government.

Since then, it has held road marches, rallies, black flag marches, sit-in protests, protest rallies, and other programmes to further its cause.

On October 28, the BNP held a grand rally at Naya Paltan, while partners held it at eight other locations.

But within an hour and a half after the rally started, police intervened, leading to violent clashes that marred the rallies.

Following Saturday's incident, police arrested over a thousand BNP leaders and activists, including party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Most BNP central leaders are on the run as police continue raids at their residences since Saturday night.

BDST: 1012 HRS, OCT 31, 2023
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