Three activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party were killed and scores injured on Tuesday as violent clashes marked the first day of a three-day countrywide blockade programme being enforced by the opposition parties.

Most inter-district buses and trucks went off the roads while very few buses were seen operating in Dhaka city, with most seats remaining vacant.

Violence erupted in several districts, especially in Kishoreganj, where Chhatra Dal activist Refayet Ullah and a local Krishak Dal leader, Billal Mia, were allegedly shot dead by police.

Juba Dal leader Dilu Ahmed Zilu was killed in Sylhet while allegedly being chased by police after a protest march.

Protesting at the killings of party activists, Kishoreganj district unit BNP and Sylhet district unit Juba Dal called down-to-dusk hartal in their respective districts on Wednesday amid the ongoing blockade programme.

Partners of the BNP-led simultaneous anti-government movement and separately Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami are also observing the three-day blockade programme demanding the resignation of the ruling Awami League and protesting at police and ruling party attacks on the BNP’s October 28 grand rally in Dhaka.

In Kishoreganj, Refayet and Billal were killed and at least 20 people, including 10 police personnel, sustained injuries in a three-way clash involving the Awami League, BNP activists, and police at the Chausuti bus stand area under Kishoreganj’s Kuliarchar upazila in the morning.

Locals said that BNP leaders and activists blocked the road near the bus stand in support of the party’s three-day nationwide blockade.