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A total of 12 vehicles were set on fire during the blockade enforced by BNP and likeminded parties. These incidents occurred after the announcement of election schedule by the Chief Election Commissioner, said Fire Service and Civil Defense central office.
An official at fire service media cell, Talha Bin Jashim, told the FE that a total of 12 vehicles, including a train, had been set ablaze since 6:00 pm on November 15 till the evening on November 16, 2023.
Business activities, including public and private offices, banks and financial institutions, were functioning on Thursday amid blockade and hartal.
Law-enforcing agencies' personnel, including police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), were seen on duty at different places of the city. Besides, the ruling Awami League leaders and activists were also active at different important intersections across the city with an aim to resist arsonists.
Despite deployment of police at different intersections or places in the capital, a sense of fear was prevailing among the city-dwellers, especially office-goers and working-class people.
"Many were seen walking down to office either on foot or by rickshaw as they preferred not to travel by buses out of fear of arson attacks," says a firsthand report by the FE correspondent.
Around 460 patrol teams of RAB were deployed amid the opposition-called blockade across the country.
Besides, around 229 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed across the country to ward off act of violence amid the blockade.
Out of them, 32 BGB platoon were being deployed in the capital and surrounding districts.
In the capital city, Dhaka, a total of 60 patrol teams are being deployed amid the ongoing tumultuous political situation.