The presence of public transports and other vehicles was thin on the Dhaka streets on Tuesday, the first day of a three-day blockade enforced by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and other opposition parties.

People, especially office-goers, were seen waiting on both sides of roads for buses to reach their destinations this morning.

They said violent activities like torching buses in the last few days forced transport owners to refrain from plying vehicles.

Rakibul Islam, who was waiting for a bus at Nadda around 7:30 am, said he had to reach Kurmitola General Hospital to see one of his relatives. 

“In other days, there were available public transports here. But today, I am waiting for 10 minutes and not getting any bus,” he said, adding that a kind of fear is prevailing among all.

BNP and like-minded opposition parties enforced a three-day countrywide blockade of road, rail and waterways which began this morning to press home their demand for the resignation of the ruling Awami League government.