Narayanganj: Vexed by long-running gas shortages, people by the thousand blockaded the Dhaka-Narayanganj Highway on Sunday morning to demand uninterrupted gas supply in the district, an industrial heartland.

Witnesses said thousands of agitated people took to street at about 8am and put up barricades at Masdair under Fatulla thana, creating severe traffic congestion on the busy route.

On information, police rushed in and tried to disperse the protestors that led to a chase-and counter-chase street rioting.

Local people said they were staging demonstrations to press home their demand for uninterrupted gas supply. A severe gas crisis has long been prevailing in different parts of the district.

The agitation continued till the filing of this report at 1130am.

BDST: 1005, 20 July 2010
Corr/TA/LY/MUA