The blockade followed a half-day general strike on Thursday and
a two-kilometer-long human-chain protest at the district town of Narail, 300
kms (188 miles) southwest of Dhaka, on Friday.
Fans have been protesting since Wednesday after the Bangladesh
Cricket Board chose not to include the 27-year-old Mortaza because of a knee
injury he sustained during a domestic match last month.
"We will continue to protest so long Mortaza is kept
out of the World Cup squad," Sharif Humayun Kabir, a local community leader
told a rally of some 1,000 fans who chanted: "Call back Mortaza." Many carried posters and placards that read, "Mortaza, Mortaza,
we want Mortaza in the Wold Cup."
Bangladesh, who are in Group B with England, India, Ireland,
Netherlands, South Africa and West Indies, begin their campaign against
co-hosts India in the tournament opener in Dhaka on Feb.
19.
