The authorities have deployed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in aid of the police force to contain arson attacks on buses, trucks and private transports during the indefinite blockade and violent shut downs.
BGB Director General Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed on Thursday warned the trouble-makers that his troops will shoot bombers to protect citizens. He said the paramilitary force has decided to use firearms on petrol bomb carriers on sight with the number of lives lost in political violence, especially in arson attacks, rising everyday.
“BGB men will injure one person carrying petrol bombs to save many who might suffer burn injuries once the attack is made,” the Director General said.
Gen Aziz told a press briefing on Thursday at its Dhaka headquarters that the border guards will support civil administration for as long as necessary.
The home ministry said the border guards have been deployed to 21 districts to assist the police who too are confronting violent attacks from the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami activists. Besides providing protection to long-distance buses at night on highways, the BGB men were on patrol in 17 troubled districts outside Dhaka.The authorities have asked for more BGB forces in 35 more districts.
Since BNP chief Khaleda Zia called indefinite transport blockade on Jan.5, a total of 22 people have been admitted to Burn Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, which is the lone advanced centre for treating serious arson victims. The media reports said at least 15 people have died from burns in the last 11 days across the country and over 400 vehicles have been set to fire,mostly by petrol bombs.
National Human Rights Commission chairman Prof. Mizanur Rahman on Thursday visited arsons victims at the Burn Unit . He urged politicians to restrain their supporters from unleashing violence and urged the government to allow free expression of opinions end obstructions to hold peaceful rallies.
After the five bus passengers including a minor were burnt to death in northern Rangpur on Wednesday, the latest victim was a bus helper who was killed in his sleep as the parked bus set on fire in Gazipur early Thursday during the dawn-to-dusk hartal.
