DHAKA: The government has deployed 289 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel across the country including the capital on Saturday to give security to SSC examinees and prevent violence during countrywide blockade called by BNP-led 20-party alliance.

55 platoons Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) troops have been kept on standby for emergency as the rail-road-waterways blockade rolled into the second month, starting from January 6. 

“16 platoons of BGB are patrolling in the capital and 132 platoons across the country from 6:00am to ensure security for students of Secondary School Certificate (SSC),” said BGB headquarters’ PRO Muhammad Mohsin Reza.

He added: “141 platoons have been deployed to maintain law and order situation and 51 more platoons in outside the Dhaka city to contain sabotage and will patrol till 6:00am Sunday”.

Some 90 platoons of the border force are giving escort to the running vehicles on highways, he added.

Meanwhile, a nationwide blockade for indefinite period is underway since BNP enforced the demonstration on January 5, protesting its Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s confinement to her Gulshan office in the city.

BDST: 1005 HRS, FEB 07, 201