Leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and Chhatra League blocked the Dhaka–Bhanga Expressway in front of the toll plaza at the Jazira end of the Padma Bridge, holding sticks and poles (logi-boitha), and staged a protest.
They chanted slogans including “Joy Bangla” and “Joy Bangabandhu.” Several cocktail bombs exploded during the demonstration, and two trucks were vandalised. The blockade halted traffic for nearly an hour, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on the bridge and surrounding roads.
The incidents took place between around 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. on Monday (9 November) in the Naodoba area of Jazira Upazila in Shariatpur.
According to local and police sources, 700–800 people gathered in the Naodoba area around 1:30 a.m. Many of them were leaders, activists and supporters of the Awami League and Chhatra League. They later took position on the expressway in front of the toll plaza with sticks and poles and began protesting. Cocktail explosions occurred in several rounds, and police said two trucks parked on the road were vandalised.
The blockade stopped vehicles travelling from Dhaka to the south-western region and from the south-western region to Dhaka, causing traffic jams on the Padma Bridge and nearby roads. Members of Padma Bridge South Police Station, Shibchar Highway Police Station and district police later arrived at the scene and dispersed the protesters. Traffic then returned to normal. Police said no one was arrested in connection with the incident.
Officer-in-Charge of Shibchar Highway Police Station Enamul Hasan said that additional police, members of Padma Bridge South Police Station and Highway Police jointly conducted an operation and removed the leaders and activists of the banned organisations.
Meanwhile, the banned Chhatra League had announced a nationwide blockade programme for Tuesday (10 November) on Facebook. Reports had circulated since the previous day that leaders and activists were gathering in various areas of Shariatpur ahead of the programme. On Monday evening, police carried out an operation in the Naodoba area and seized 500 packets of khichuri from a business establishment. A protest procession was later held there under the banner of Shariatpur District Jubo Dal.
During the night-time protest, Shariatpur District Chhatra League convener Mohsin Madbar was seen delivering a speech. A video of his address circulated on Facebook. In the video, he is heard saying that any obstruction of BNP programmes would be resisted.
The incident site is close to Padma Bridge South Police Station, a cantonment, the bridge’s service area and the toll plaza. The late-night road blockade and cocktail explosions in such a sensitive location spread panic among travellers.