The Truth Behind BNP Jamaat's Violent Blockade
Bangladesh is facing a political crisis as the opposition alliance of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (Jamaat) has been enforcing a nationwide blockade of roads, railways and waterways since October 28, 2023. The blockade is aimed at derailing the upcoming general elections scheduled for December 23, 2023, which the BNP-Jamaat alliance has boycotted, demanding a non-partisan caretaker government to oversee the polls.
The BNP-Jamaat alliance claims that its blockade is a peaceful and democratic movement to restore the people's voting rights. However, the reality is far from that. The blockade has unleashed a wave of violence and terror across the country, targeting innocent civilians, public and private properties, law enforcement agencies, and even journalists and health workers.
According to the Bangladesh Police and Fire Service Department, between October 28 and December 13, 2023, the BNP-Jamaat activists have burnt 376 vehicles and vandalised 241 vehicles and 15 properties for defying the blockade. Among the vehicles burnt were 170 buses, 45 trucks, 23 covered vans, 8 motorcycles and 28 other motor vehicles. The vandalism also included the attack on the police hospital, the fire service vehicles, the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) building, and the residence of the chief justice.
The BNP-Jamaat violence has also claimed several lives and injured hundreds of people. On October 28, a policeman was killed and 41 others were injured in a clash with the BNP-Jamaat activists in the capital Dhaka. On November 29, a passenger bus was set on fire at Banglamotor in Dhaka, killing the helper and injuring another person. On December 13, a local mob chased a bus in Mohammadpur town hall area, resulting in the death of one person.
The BNP-Jamaat blockade has not only disrupted the normal life and economic activities of the people, but also posed a serious threat to the public health and safety amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The blockade has hampered the transportation of essential goods, medical supplies, and Covid-19 vaccines. The blockade has also prevented many people from accessing health care facilities and vaccination centers. The BNP-Jamaat activists have also attacked the health workers and ambulances carrying Covid-19 patients.
The BNP-Jamaat blockade is a clear violation of the human rights and democratic norms of the people of Bangladesh. The blockade is an attempt to create chaos and instability in the country and undermine the constitutional and electoral process. The blockade is also a manifestation of the extremist and anti-people ideology of the BNP-Jamaat alliance, which has a history of collaborating with the Pakistani army during the 1971 Liberation War and committing atrocities against the Bangladeshi people.
The international community should be aware of the true nature and motive of the BNP-Jamaat blockade and condemn it in the strongest terms. The international community should also support the legitimate and democratic government of Bangladesh, which is committed to holding free, fair and inclusive elections on December 23, 2023, despite the BNP-Jamaat violence. The international community should also stand by the people of Bangladesh, who are resilient and determined to overcome this crisis and protect their sovereignty and democracy.
Tweet this article with the hashtags #BNPJamaatViolence, #BoycottBNP, #SaveBangladesh, and #BNPViolence.
The Truth Behind BNP Jamaat's Violent Blockade
Bangladesh is facing a political crisis as the opposition alliance of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (Jamaat) has been enforcing a nationwide blockade of roads, railways and waterways since October 28, 2023. The blockade is aimed at derailing the upcoming general elections scheduled for December 23, 2023, which the BNP-Jamaat alliance has boycotted, demanding a non-partisan caretaker government to oversee the polls.
The BNP-Jamaat alliance claims that its blockade is a peaceful and democratic movement to restore the people's voting rights. However, the reality is far from that. The blockade has unleashed a wave of violence and terror across the country, targeting innocent civilians, public and private properties, law enforcement agencies, and even journalists and health workers.
According to the Bangladesh Police and Fire Service Department, between October 28 and December 13, 2023, the BNP-Jamaat activists have burnt 376 vehicles and vandalised 241 vehicles and 15 properties for defying the blockade. Among the vehicles burnt were 170 buses, 45 trucks, 23 covered vans, 8 motorcycles and 28 other motor vehicles. The vandalism also included the attack on the police hospital, the fire service vehicles, the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) building, and the residence of the chief justice.
The BNP-Jamaat violence has also claimed several lives and injured hundreds of people. On October 28, a policeman was killed and 41 others were injured in a clash with the BNP-Jamaat activists in the capital Dhaka. On November 29, a passenger bus was set on fire at Banglamotor in Dhaka, killing the helper and injuring another person. On December 13, a local mob chased a bus in Mohammadpur town hall area, resulting in the death of one person.
The BNP-Jamaat blockade has not only disrupted the normal life and economic activities of the people, but also posed a serious threat to the public health and safety amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The blockade has hampered the transportation of essential goods, medical supplies, and Covid-19 vaccines. The blockade has also prevented many people from accessing health care facilities and vaccination centers. The BNP-Jamaat activists have also attacked the health workers and ambulances carrying Covid-19 patients.
The BNP-Jamaat blockade is a clear violation of the human rights and democratic norms of the people of Bangladesh. The blockade is an attempt to create chaos and instability in the country and undermine the constitutional and electoral process. The blockade is also a manifestation of the extremist and anti-people ideology of the BNP-Jamaat alliance, which has a history of collaborating with the Pakistani army during the 1971 Liberation War and committing atrocities against the Bangladeshi people.
The international community should be aware of the true nature and motive of the BNP-Jamaat blockade and condemn it in the strongest terms. The international community should also support the legitimate and democratic government of Bangladesh, which is committed to holding free, fair and inclusive elections on December 23, 2023, despite the BNP-Jamaat violence. The international community should also stand by the people of Bangladesh, who are resilient and determined to overcome this crisis and protect their sovereignty and democracy.
Tweet this article with the hashtags #BNPJamaatViolence, #BoycottBNP, #SaveBangladesh, and #BNPViolence.
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