Dateline 29 December: All traffic towards Dhaka stopped

The Dhaka Times Desk There are no long-distance buses running from different parts of the country towards the capital. That is, the blockade has started again. But this time it is not a blockade of 18 teams.

BNP-led 18-party alliance's new program 'March for Democracy' is tomorrow, December 29. 18 teams have already made extensive preparations for this program. But since yesterday, no long-distance bus is plying towards the capital. Dhaka Metro Politan Police has already informed not to allow gathering in Nayapaltan. The DMP did not allow the gathering fearing a security breach.

Dhaka-bound buses and launches have been stopped to prevent the December 29 'March for Democracy' mass gathering of the opposition party BNP and alliance parties to protect democracy. All traffic from Khulna, Barisal, Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions towards Dhaka has already been stopped. As a result, the capital is isolated. Many common people got stuck in those places while coming to Dhaka. Coming to the bus stand and sitting for hours and not getting any bus.

It is to be noted that to prevent the 10th National Election on January 5, the BNP-led 18-party coalition has announced that the transport owners have stopped traffic on the government's order to prevent the 'Democracy Movement' program on December 29, but the bus owners have denied this allegation. They say they stopped the bus fearing that their vehicles might be damaged in case of violence.

In the meantime, the Dhaka journey of the buses of Barisal, Khulna and most districts of Rajshahi division has been cancelled. All traffic on the Rangpur-Dhaka road has also been stopped. All launch journeys from Barisal to Dhaka have also been canceled.

Bus service on Rajshahi-Dhaka route has been stopped due to Sunday's 'March for Democracy' program called by the 18-party alliance. The transport owners stopped the bus service from 6 pm yesterday on Friday. Many bus owners also sold tickets which were sold later in the evening and were later refunded.

Rajshahi Motor Workers Union President Kamal Hossain told the media that according to the decision of the federation, only the Rajshahi-Dhaka route has been stopped from Friday evening. He said, it will be closed till Sunday evening.
He also said that a decision has been taken to stop the bus service on the Rajshahi-Dhaka route from Friday evening due to the fear of violence based on Sunday's program.

Bus service from Chuadanga to Dhaka is stopped. On the other hand, transport owners have stopped the movement of buses and launches from Barisal to Dhaka. All passenger coaches from Rangpur to Dhaka have been stopped due to the March for Democracy program in Dhaka. The bus owners have taken this decision without any prior announcement. It has been informed that no vehicle will go to Dhaka from Rangpur till Sunday night.

In the capital Dhaka, all communication routes from Bhola to Dhaka have been closed due to the main opposition party BNP's 'March to Dhaka for Democracy' programme. BNP has complained that the government has blocked all roads so that the party leaders and workers cannot join the public gathering in Dhaka.

Khaleda Zia's video message

Opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia has called on the countrymen to appear in Nayapaltan next Sunday, ignoring all the obstacles in the movement to protect democracy. For some reason he could not stand by, but he ordered the activists to continue the movement until the government fell. He made this call in the 1 minute 58 second video message.

In a video message, Khaleda Zia also said to the activists and the people that they should continue the movement even if they could not stand by the public gathering for any reason. Will remain in the field until the fall of this government. We have brought democracy in exchange of a lot of blood, we will protect the democracy of this country.

It is to be noted that Begum Khaleda Zia held a press conference on behalf of the BNP-led 18-party alliance to prevent the 10th National Assembly elections on 5 January and announced the 'March of Democracy' program on 29 December.