Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its ultra-radical key ally Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami have allegedly hatched a deep rooted conspiracy to intensify their arson attacks across the country after the Election Commission (EC) announces schedule for the 12th national election.
However, security forces have also taken all-out preparations to tackle anarchies to protect the life and property.
Despite repeated failures to engage mass people in BNP-Jamaat’s destructive movement, BNP-Jamaat on Thursday again called a 48-hour countrywide blockade from Sunday demanding caretaker government which is totally unconstitutional.
BNP-Jamaat observed a day-long hartal on October 29 after they carried out massive violence on October 28 that left an innocent police constable dead.
Later, BNP-Jamaat also called a 72-hour blockade starting October 31, a 48-hour blockade starting from November 5, and a 48-hour blockade starting from November 8.
According to the political observers, on October 28 BNP committed suicide by allowing their party leaders and activists in violent activities.
After showing their terror faces again on October 28, their all programmes are becoming increasingly ineffective.
Public life has almost returned to normal, especially ignoring the blockade of the third term. However, there have been reports of violence in various places in and around Dhaka.
However, BNP-Jamaat insiders claimed that their three-phase blockades they have called so far is just a rehearsal.
They threatened to start massive terrorism after the announcement of the election schedule.
Sources in BNP-Jamaat said that party high ups have been advised their grassroots leaders and activists to go into hideouts until the EC announces poll schedule.
This is why top BNP-Jamaat caders are not seen doing much picketing as per their deep rooted conspiracy.
They are carrying small scale of terrorism only to create panic and get media coverage.
There is no regret in BNP-Jamaat leadership about the failure of such programmes, sources said. Rather, some of their leaders said that there is nothing to be disappointed about this failed programmes. They will make big preparations ahead.
According to various sources, BNP has planned more destructive programmes. For these violent programmes, BNP-Jamaat caders have been instructed to wait till the schedule of elections without wasting full energy.
BNP-Jamaat will start showing their real faces of terrorism in the name of movement after the election schedule is announced.
A BNP leader on condition of anonymity said, they will become more violent and they have that preparation. There are huge numbers of armed caders in BNP-Jamaat who are currently in hiding.
This armed group will enter in the field after the election schedule is announced. They will then carry out massive terrorism in the streets. They will attack important government installations. Multiple sources have hinted that BNP-Jamaat may start target killing to cerate panic among citizens.
And that's why BNP-Jamaat don't want to waste energy by putting all their armed caders on the streets right now. BNP-Jamaat know that those who take to the streets will be arrested. They are in hiding to avoid arrest. At certain times they will come out and do violent activities.
But political analysts opined that this path of BNP-Jamaat is completely wrong path and suicidal. If they continue their terrorism, disrupt public life, common people will reject them forever. And no movement can ultimately succeed if the common people reject it.
Meanwhile on Thursday, BNP-Jamaat terrors torched a passenger bus in Shahzadpur area.
BNP-Jamaat caders also set a passenger bus of “Raida Paribahan'' on fire at Bashtola area of Badda’s Shahzadpur.
They also set a truck on fire on Bangabandhu Bridge West Link Highway, at Jhaoil Overbridge in Kamarkhand upazila of Sirajganj district.
BNP-Jamaat activists also vandalised a number of vehicles on the highway.
BNP-Jamaat caders torched thirteen vehicles across the country from 6am on Wednesday till 9am Thursday during the ongoing 48-hour blockade.
Of these, five arson attacks were reported in Dhaka City Corporation areas, three in Gazipur, one in Khagrachhari, one in Bogra, two in Barisal and Barguna, and one in Noakhali, said Talha Bin Jasim, station officer of Fire Service and Civil Defense's media cell.
In a latest development, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun warned that those, who will try to create anarchy and engage in arson attacks, will not be spared.
“None will be spared . . . those who are involved in violent activities as well as setting fire to the vehicles,” he told a news agency on Thursday at his office at the Police Headquarters.
The IGP said strict measures have already been taken against those who were involved in vandalism at Chief Justice’s residence, judge’s complex and arson attacks on motor vehicles.
“None will be spared who wants to do such criminal acts, as BNP activists brutally killed our policeman on October 28. We will bring all who were engaged in those criminal activities like arson attacks, vandalism and anarchy across the country,” he added.
Mamun said the police do not arrest anyone without specific accusation, adding, “To prevent arson attacks on the motor vehicles, Tk. 20,000 was announced as reward if people can catch any criminal and hand over them to police.”
The police boss said, “It is not politically motivated work and also not political person detention. Law enforcers have been arresting them who were involved in criminal activities following October 28 BNP’s grand rally. We are also watching CCTV and video footage carefully and indentifying them.”
He said a meeting was held with the transport owners association and the police suggested them (transport owners) to keep buses at a selected place so that the police can ensure safety and security.
“Law enforcers are ready to deal with any type of atrocities and we will deal with them with iron hands,” the IGP stated.
Usually, 1500-1700 people used to arrest on charges of different crimes per day and police arrested several people in connection with the violence and destructive activities during the BNP rally on October 28 and blockade, he added.