‘Don’t play with fire’

Ruling Awami League lawmaker from Narayanganj-4 Shamim Osman yesterday urged local administration not to “play with fire”.

“I call upon the authorities concerned to conduct a ‘clean-up’ in the administration. Narayanganj Awami League means playing with fire. So, don’t play. You will not win,” he warned while addressing a rally.

He was speaking at the rally titled “Stand against all anti-liberation evil forces” in Missionpara area on Nawab Salimullah road in the city.

“Some overenthusiastic police officers are hatching conspiracy. Even, many officers send text messages to journalists for publishing news reports against political leaders,” he added.

“Conspiracy is going on even abroad… We will take field against anti-liberation forces as we did in  1971, if Sheikh Hasina calls for it,” said Shamim.

“We can cordon off Narayanganj right now, if we want. So, don’t play with us,” he warned.

BLOCKED ROADS BRING MISERY TO COMMUTERS

Meanwhile, thousands of commuters has to suffer immensely, as supporters of Shamim Osman did not allow buses to enter the city since noon.

A truck was turned into a makeshift stage on the road, blocking the side of the street since 1pm, although the rally was scheduled from 4pm.

At around 2pm, this correspondent saw AL men led by Shah Nizam, joint secretary of Narayanganj city AL, intercepting a BRTC bus near court area on Dhaka-Narayanganj link road, and forcing passengers to get down.

“Don’t you know there is a rally of Shamim Osman? Turn around; buses will not move any further. Passengers will walk,” Nizam was heard saying.

The bus was heading towards Narayanganj city, around one and half kilometres away from the spot.

Passengers of most buses had to face a similar situation for hours.

Hamid Miah, who came from Signboard area to visit a doctor for her pregnant wife, said, “The bus was stuck for an hour on a road that should have taken five minutes. Now we have been forced to get off the bus, and we cannot even find a rickshaw to reach our destination.”