Dhaka-Barisal highway blocked and tyres burned in Kalkini protest, BNP stages counter-procession
Several leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and the banned organisation Chhatra League blocked the Dhaka-Barisal highway in Kalkini, Madaripur, and staged a protest by burning tyres. Shouting 'Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu' slogans, they stayed on the highway for about half an hour, temporarily stopping traffic.
The incident took place on Thursday evening at Bhuraghata, the centre of Kalkini and Dasar upazilas in Madaripur, on the Kalkini section of the highway.
Local sources and videos spread on social media show several leaders and activists gathering on the highway under the leadership of Shahjalal Hawlader, publicity secretary of Kalkini upazila Awami League. They burned tyres on the road and chanted various slogans. Traffic returned to normal after they left the scene.
A short while after the incident, leaders and activists of Kalkini and Dasar upazila BNP and its affiliated and associate organisations brought out a protest procession against the Awami League and Chhatra League.
The BNP leaders and activists said they were in the field to prevent sabotage activities by the banned Chhatra League. They also said they recovered several oars inscribed with 'Joy Bangla' at the time.
Kalkini police station officer-in-charge (OC) Zahirul Alam said police went to the scene and brought the situation under control. Tension spread in the Bhuraghata area for some time over the incident, but the situation later returned to normal. Traffic is now moving normally, he said.
