Awami League Supporters Block Faridpur Highways with Homemade Weapons

As part of the lockdown initiative in Dhaka called by the Awami League, which has had its activities prohibited, the party's leaders and supporters are obstructing the highway in Faridpur using homemade weapons. During this time, they demonstrated by igniting tree trunks and tires on the highway.

Additionally, children were observed standing on the road wielding homemade weapons, such as ramdas and sticks.

The blockade commenced at 6 am on Wednesday in the Shuyodi bus stand area of Algi Union in Bhanga Upazila along the Dhaka-Khulna highway. Furthermore, local sources reported that similar actions were taking place at least five locations, including Pukhuria on the Dhaka-Barisal highway and Pulia on the expressway, continuing until 10 am as of the time of this report.

District Jubo League leader Debashish Nayan was seen broadcasting live on Facebook from the Shuyodi area. Around 8:30 am, the live stream depicted protesters leaving tree stumps on the highway and igniting tires. Hundreds of local leaders and activists were visible on the highway with their homemade weapons, ramdas, shields, and sarkis. At that moment, at least ten children were spotted on the road wearing helmets and holding sticks, with one child brandishing a ramda and chanting slogans.

During this time, several vehicles, including those heading to Dhaka, were trapped on both sides of the road.

According to local sources, the stretch from Bhanga on the Dhaka-Khulna highway to Gopalganj is under the influence of the Awami League. Following the announcement of the lockdown program, leaders and activists from various areas of Faridpur had been present in the vicinity since morning. From early morning, some leaders and activists had taken positions on the road in support of the lockdown, and subsequently, others joined in, completely blocking the road. This led to a tense atmosphere in the area.

When I inquired about this at approximately 9:15 am, I attempted to reach Bhanga Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ashraf Hossain multiple times on his mobile, but he disconnected the call, and there was no answer from the Upazila Executive Officer's mobile. Meanwhile, a local journalist reported that blockades had been set up in five locations within Bhanga. Subsequently, the police station, under the leadership of the OC, traveled to Pukhuria and Pulia to engage directly with the situation, after which they removed the blockade. Additionally, the police are advancing towards the Shuadi area, and the army is also on standby. We are accompanying the police station to the scene.