Airport protest halts highway

Munshiganj, Jan 31 (bdnews24.com)—Traffic on the Dhaka-Mawa highway has been brought to a halt amid police fears that a protest over the construction of the proposed Bangabandhu International Airport may become violent.

The Arial Beel Protection Committee called the protest early on Monday and began blockading the highway near the Kuchiamora area of Munshiganj.

Police urged drivers to avoid the area, warning of possible violence.

Protest leader Shahjahan Badal called the blockade following the recent obstruction by authorities of a meeting in the capital's Muktangan called to organise action against the proposed airport.

It also follows cases filed against 4,026 villagers in the Arial Beel area accused of attacking police and burning vehicles on the same highway during an earlier protest.

Reports on Monday, said that tensions were again mounting high on the highway with residents from Nababganj and Dohar gathering to join the protest against the airport project.

Munshiganj police chief Mohammad Shafiqul Islam said that security measures had been taken to keep the situation under control.

A 500-strong police force was deployed along the highway from Chhanbari to Kuchiamora, he said.

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