Tree Blockade on Dhaka-Barisal Highway in Madaripur Lifted After Four Hours

A major disruption occurred on the Dhaka-Barisal highway in Madaripur today as activists from the Awami League carried out a blockade by felling trees, as part of their shutdown programme. The protesters also set tyres alight, intensifying the demonstration. The blockade began at around 6:30 AM in the Gopalpur area, causing a complete halt to traffic on the busy highway.

The situation remained tense for nearly four hours, until local police from Kalakini and Dasar, along with the Fire Service, arrived at the scene. By 9:30 AM, the authorities had cleared the felled trees, allowing normal traffic flow to resume.

Local sources reported that the shutdown was led by Mir Golam Faruk, former General Secretary of the Kalakini Awami League, and Enayet Hossain Howlader, former Mayor of Kalakini Municipality. The protesters had gathered early in the morning at the northern side of Gopalpur Bus Stand, where they used machinery to cut down between 10 to 12 trees and block various points of the highway. This led to long traffic jams, severely affecting long-distance passengers and drivers.

In addition to the tree blockade, protesters also staged a tyre-burning demonstration and chanted slogans against the government. As law enforcement and fire services arrived at the site, the demonstrators dispersed.

During the protest, a van was set up as a makeshift stage where Mir Golam Faruk and Enayet Hossain Howlader addressed the crowd. They claimed that the shutdown was in response to alleged conspiracies to execute Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and spoke out against the Yunus government. They also expressed gratitude to their supporters for the success of the programme.

Additional Police Superintendent Jahangir Alam commented on the incident, stating that upon receiving reports, he immediately went to the site with additional forces. With the help of local residents and the Fire Service, the felled trees were cleared, and traffic was able to resume at around 9:30 AM.

When asked about the prolonged disruption, Alam explained that the Awami League activists had felled several large trees, which took considerable time to remove. As of now, no arrests have been made, and legal proceedings are underway.

The blockade led to extensive traffic jams, affecting both local commuters and long-distance travellers. The highway, a major route connecting Dhaka and Barisal, saw significant delays, with passengers experiencing considerable discomfort.

Despite the disruption, the authorities were able to restore order, and investigations into the incident are ongoing.