Chandpur rail tracks set on fire

Strikers tried to block a railway line by placing burning tyres on tracks atn Chandpur town on Wednesday morning, the second day of the 18-Party alliance-sponsored 36-hour nationwide shutdown. Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (student affiliate of BNP) supporters led by their district Secretary General Kazi Mohammad Ibrahim Jewel placed the burning tyres at several points on rail tracks at Gunjardi area of the town around 7:00am.

Police rushed to the spot and put out the fire within 30 minutes, Chandpur Sadar Model Police Station Assistant Sub Inspector Mohammad Ziauddin said.
So there was no disruption on Chandpur-Laksham rail link, Chandpur Railway Station Assistant Manager Mohammad Maruf Hossain said.


Meanwhile, strikers blocked a newly-constructed bridge on Chandpur-Matlab-Pennai road in Sadar Upazila’s Kalibhangti area with logs around 6:00am, bdnews24.com Chandpur Correspondent reported.

Blockades were also reported from Chandpur-Comilla road in Baburhat area. Burning tyres were used.

Two Shibir activists were nabbed from the town, Chandpur Police Superintendent Mohammad Amir Zafar said. He said the district was by and large peaceful so far.

BNP called the shutdown moments after a Dhaka rejected bail of seven of their top leaders on Sunday. Only three were granted bail.

The BNP demands withdrawal of cases against their leaders, restoration of the caretaker provision to supervise the next parliament poll and resignation of the government.