Hartal ViolenceStaff Correspondent
At least seven vehicles were set on fire, around two dozens of bombs exploded while arresting about 70 offenders on Monday amid the countrywide indefinite transport blockade and 2nd day of another 72-hour hartal enforced by BNP-led alliance.
The death toll from petrol bomb attacks stood at 78 since the political violence started on January 6.
In Dhaka city, three passengers of a bus carrying Janata Bank staff were injured as pro-hartal activists hurled a bomb on the vehicle at Jatrabari in the city. Of them, two received splinter injuries during the blast while another was hurt as he jumped off the bus to escape the attack, DMCH source said.
The arson attack took place near Bhanga Press in Jatrabari area at around 9:30am.
A group of 10-12 people, three of them wearing masks, exploded 4-5 crude bombs beside Dutch-Bangla Bank of Bijoynagar branch at around 4pm. Later, they vandalised two private cars there and set fire to those by pouring petrol. A group of pro-hartal activists torched the vehicles soon after.
At least six people were injured as miscreants exploded around 16 home-made bombs in Jatrabari, Science Laboratory, Khilkhet areas and Laxmibazar areas in the morning.
Besides, two vendors were injured when three bombs were exploded at GPO intersection in the city on Monday evening. The injured were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Meanwhile, police detained 14 activists of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, from different places of the city on Monday. Of the detainees, seven activists are said to be activists of BNP and seven of Jamaat-Shibir.
Incidents of violence, like bomb blasts, torching of public vehicles and the arrest of pickets were also reported from different parts of the country, including Panchagarh, Khulna, Narayanganj and Bogra districts during the hartal on Monday.  
The hartal supporters torched five vehicles, including a truck, a pickup and two motorbikes, in Bogra and Panchagarh districts.
Police arrested 55 people, mostly activists of BNP-Jamaat-Shibir`, from different parts of the country, including Dhaka, Panchagarh and Khulna districts.