Explosions, vandalism, arrests mark 18-party hartal
Dhaka, May 17 (UNB) – Crude bomb blasts, vandalism of vehicles by pickets and detention of opposition activists marked the countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal enforced by the 18-party alliance on Thursday.
At least 198 leaders and activists of the BNP-led opposition alliance were arrested and 46 injured across the country during hartal hours.
Police detained 19 leaders and activists of BNP, including its education affairs secretary Khairul Kabir Khokan, from different parts of the capital in the morning.
Like the recent hartal days, the law enforcers kept the BNP central office at Nayapaltan cordoned off since early morning.
BNP leaders and activists were locked into a scuffle with the law enforcers as they were prevented from gathering in front of their central office in the morning. BNP joint secretary general Mizanur Rahman Minu was injured in the melee.
Later, police picked up Khokan and a BNP activist from in front of the BNP central office.
Police also picked up 10 BNP men from the city’s Jatrabari, two from Motijheel and another from Sher-e-Banga Nagar areas when they tried to bring out processions in support of the nationwide shutdown.
Police also obstructed opposition men from bringing out a procession in the city’s Khilgaon Taltala market area in the morning.
A chase and counter chase took place between the law enforcers and pro-hartal activists. Later, police detained four pickets from the spot.
Meanwhile, pro-hartal activists hurled a crude bomb at a Kamalapur-bound train at Shahajahanpur. Police held four people from the spot in this connection.
Pro-hartal supporters hurled five crude bombs at a passenger bus near the Kidney Foundation in Mirpur-2. However, no one was injured in the incident.
The activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal brought out a procession in Fakirerpool area of the city and damaged 5-6 vehicles at about 8:30 am.
Meanwhile, BNP claimed that thousands of opposition leaders and activists were arrested and injured across the country during the countrywide shutdown on Thursday.
Addressing a post-hartal press conference, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan also said they would announce their new programmes tomorrow (Friday).
Traffic on the city streets was thin as vehicles stayed off the road fearing vandalism. Educational institutions were closed while most shops kept their shutters down.
But the government offices remained opened as usual. The office-goers had to face serious problems to reach their workplaces because of shortage of vehicles. No long-distance bus left the city since morning. However, train and launch services were normal.
The BNP-led 18-party alliance called the shutdown demanding unconditional release of the top leaders of BNP and its allies, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who were sent to jail after their surrender to a trial court on Wednesday, and withdrawal of ‘false’ and ‘motivated’ cases filed against the opposition leaders.
In Chittagong: Four BNP activists were arrested while picketing in front of BNP`s office at Nasimon Bhaban in the city`s Kazirdewri at 1:30 pm.
A pro-hartal procession, led by former civil aviation minister Mir Nasiruddin, was taken out from Nasimon Bhaban in the morning and ended at BNP`s Dost Building office opposite to New Market.
A rally was held in the afternoon in front of Nasimon Bhaban, addressed among others, by BNP chairperson’s advisor and former commerce minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Chittagong (South) BNP senior vice-president Sheikh Mohiuddin, city BNP vice-president Shamsul Alam, Chittagong (South) BNP leader Jalaluddin Chowdhury and Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal leader Nazimuddin.
In Narayanganj, Ward Councillor of Narayanganj City Corporation Maksudul Alam Khandakar Khorshed was among 14 BNP activists picked up by police from the city and other parts of the district during hartal hours today.
At least 10 BNP leaders and workers, including city BNP secretary ATM Kalam and district unit Jatiyatabadi Olama Dal chief Shamsuzzaman Khan Benu and BNP leader Fazlul Haque were injured as a procession led by them, came under police attack near City Corporation Building in the morning.
Of the injured, two were admitted to 100-bed Narayanganj General Hospital.
In Barisal, police arrested 32 BNP and one Jamaat-e-Islami activists while picketing at different city points in the morning.
Hartal supporters clashed with police at Post Road and Nazir Mahalla, leaving 11 opposition activists injured from morning to afternoon.
Most of the rickshaws and all motorised vehicles remained off the city roads till late in the afternoon and no long-route buses left Barisal`s Nathullabad and Rupatali inter-district bus terminals nor any buses arrived here from elsewhere.
A few river vessels, including launch, left Barisal on different routes with less number of passengers.
Classes and examinations at the educational institutions were not held, markets, shops and showrooms were closed while transactions in banks and financial institutions were limited.
In Sirajganj, police arrested 30 BNP activists from different parts of the district, including the district town, during hartal hours today.
Besides, a case was filed today against 54, including the district unit BNP secretary general and Sirajganj Mayor Advocate Mokaddes Ali, on charges of arson attack and vandalism in the town on Wednesday evening.
In Kushtia, district unit BNP president and former MP Syed Mehedi Rumi was among 10 opposition leaders and workers injured in a clash with police at Singer Mor in the town at 11 am.
The clash ensued when BNP men took out a procession, led by Rumi, from NS Road. It came under police attack when it reached Singer Mor.
A total of eight hartal supporters were arrested in the town.
In Gazipur, police in separate pre-hartal overnight drives arrested 13 BNP activists from Joydevpur, Tongi, Kaliganj and Kapasia early Thursday.
Many passing vehicles, including buses, trucks and auto-rickshaws were damaged in Gazipur town, Chandana, Rajbari Road and at different points of Mymensingh Road in the morning.
A pro-hartal procession, led by local BNP leader Shakhawat Hossain Sabuj, was brought out from Jorpukurpar in the district town and paraded different roads.
In Rajbari, the Government College students union general secretary and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leader Masumul Haque Taslim was among 18 BNP, JCD and Jubo Dal activists picked up by police from different parts of the town during today`s hartal.
BIWTA and local sources said ferry service was almost normal in Daulatdia-Paturia waterways.
In Thakurgaon, at least 15 BNP activists, including district BNP publicity secretary Abu Taher Dulal, were injured as club-wielding police swooped on a pro-hartal procession at Chourasta (intersection) at the heart of the town at about 1:20 pm.
Police foiled the procession, arresting three BNP activists from the spot.
Barring this incident, hartal was observed in the town and other parts of the northern district peacefully.
In Sherpur, police arrested two people, Russel Mia, 24, and Mollik Hossain, 22, in a pre-hartal drive at Dhankusha on Nakla-Nalitabari road in Nalitabari upazila early Thursday. Police also recovered six lethal weapons from them. They hailed from Nalitabari. It could not be ascertained immediately whether the arrestees were pro-hartal elements. Hartal was by and large peaceful in Sherpur town and elsewhere in the district.
In Patuakhali, the district unit JCD organising secretary was among five opposition activists arrested by police from different parts of the town during the day-long shutdown.
Picketers torched four auto-rickshaws and a cycle-rickshaw and damaged a covered van in the morning.
In Khulna, police in pre-hartal clampdown on opposition arrested BNP`s Khulna city unit joint organizing secretary Masud Parvez Babu and 18 Islami Chhatra Shibir activists from the city and Dakop upazila respectively from Wednesday night to early Thursday.
Babu was rounded up at Jorakal Bazar at Tutpara in the city while 18 Shibir activists were picked up from Belalia Alim Madrasa Masque in Dakop.
In Feni, at least 17 BNP activists were arrested from different parts of the district, including its headquarters sometimes between Wednesday late night and Thursday morning.
Of them three were arrested while picketing in the town at 10:30 am on Thursday and the rest were rounded up from the town and different other areas of the south-eastern district.
In Laxmipur, the day-long shutdown passed without major incidents in the district today.
Twenty-two BNP and Jamaat-Shibir activists were arrested in five upazilas from Wednesday late night to Thursday afternoon.
Of them two were held in sadar upazila and the rest 20 in Raipur, Ramganj, Kamalnagar and Ramgati upazila towns.
In Sylhet, life came to a standstill during day-long shutdown in the district. The city roads were almost empty with almost all private offices, educational institutions, supermarkets, bazaars and shops shut.
No bus left the bus terminals but a couple of trains left Sylhet Rail Station for their respective destinations with much less passengers than other days. A few water vessels plied in Surma, Kushiara, Khoai and other rivers.
Only nationalised banks were open but transaction was thin.
Two pickets were held for picketing in city`s Kazi Ilias area at 9 am and produced before a mobile court which convicted them, slapping Tk 5,000 fine on each, in default 7 days imprisonment.
At least 198 leaders and activists of the BNP-led opposition alliance were arrested and 46 injured across the country during hartal hours.
Police detained 19 leaders and activists of BNP, including its education affairs secretary Khairul Kabir Khokan, from different parts of the capital in the morning.
Like the recent hartal days, the law enforcers kept the BNP central office at Nayapaltan cordoned off since early morning.
BNP leaders and activists were locked into a scuffle with the law enforcers as they were prevented from gathering in front of their central office in the morning. BNP joint secretary general Mizanur Rahman Minu was injured in the melee.
Later, police picked up Khokan and a BNP activist from in front of the BNP central office.
Police also picked up 10 BNP men from the city’s Jatrabari, two from Motijheel and another from Sher-e-Banga Nagar areas when they tried to bring out processions in support of the nationwide shutdown.
Police also obstructed opposition men from bringing out a procession in the city’s Khilgaon Taltala market area in the morning.
A chase and counter chase took place between the law enforcers and pro-hartal activists. Later, police detained four pickets from the spot.
Meanwhile, pro-hartal activists hurled a crude bomb at a Kamalapur-bound train at Shahajahanpur. Police held four people from the spot in this connection.
Pro-hartal supporters hurled five crude bombs at a passenger bus near the Kidney Foundation in Mirpur-2. However, no one was injured in the incident.
The activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal brought out a procession in Fakirerpool area of the city and damaged 5-6 vehicles at about 8:30 am.
Meanwhile, BNP claimed that thousands of opposition leaders and activists were arrested and injured across the country during the countrywide shutdown on Thursday.
Addressing a post-hartal press conference, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan also said they would announce their new programmes tomorrow (Friday).
Traffic on the city streets was thin as vehicles stayed off the road fearing vandalism. Educational institutions were closed while most shops kept their shutters down.
But the government offices remained opened as usual. The office-goers had to face serious problems to reach their workplaces because of shortage of vehicles. No long-distance bus left the city since morning. However, train and launch services were normal.
The BNP-led 18-party alliance called the shutdown demanding unconditional release of the top leaders of BNP and its allies, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who were sent to jail after their surrender to a trial court on Wednesday, and withdrawal of ‘false’ and ‘motivated’ cases filed against the opposition leaders.
In Chittagong: Four BNP activists were arrested while picketing in front of BNP`s office at Nasimon Bhaban in the city`s Kazirdewri at 1:30 pm.
A pro-hartal procession, led by former civil aviation minister Mir Nasiruddin, was taken out from Nasimon Bhaban in the morning and ended at BNP`s Dost Building office opposite to New Market.
A rally was held in the afternoon in front of Nasimon Bhaban, addressed among others, by BNP chairperson’s advisor and former commerce minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Chittagong (South) BNP senior vice-president Sheikh Mohiuddin, city BNP vice-president Shamsul Alam, Chittagong (South) BNP leader Jalaluddin Chowdhury and Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal leader Nazimuddin.
In Narayanganj, Ward Councillor of Narayanganj City Corporation Maksudul Alam Khandakar Khorshed was among 14 BNP activists picked up by police from the city and other parts of the district during hartal hours today.
At least 10 BNP leaders and workers, including city BNP secretary ATM Kalam and district unit Jatiyatabadi Olama Dal chief Shamsuzzaman Khan Benu and BNP leader Fazlul Haque were injured as a procession led by them, came under police attack near City Corporation Building in the morning.
Of the injured, two were admitted to 100-bed Narayanganj General Hospital.
In Barisal, police arrested 32 BNP and one Jamaat-e-Islami activists while picketing at different city points in the morning.
Hartal supporters clashed with police at Post Road and Nazir Mahalla, leaving 11 opposition activists injured from morning to afternoon.
Most of the rickshaws and all motorised vehicles remained off the city roads till late in the afternoon and no long-route buses left Barisal`s Nathullabad and Rupatali inter-district bus terminals nor any buses arrived here from elsewhere.
A few river vessels, including launch, left Barisal on different routes with less number of passengers.
Classes and examinations at the educational institutions were not held, markets, shops and showrooms were closed while transactions in banks and financial institutions were limited.
In Sirajganj, police arrested 30 BNP activists from different parts of the district, including the district town, during hartal hours today.
Besides, a case was filed today against 54, including the district unit BNP secretary general and Sirajganj Mayor Advocate Mokaddes Ali, on charges of arson attack and vandalism in the town on Wednesday evening.
In Kushtia, district unit BNP president and former MP Syed Mehedi Rumi was among 10 opposition leaders and workers injured in a clash with police at Singer Mor in the town at 11 am.
The clash ensued when BNP men took out a procession, led by Rumi, from NS Road. It came under police attack when it reached Singer Mor.
A total of eight hartal supporters were arrested in the town.
In Gazipur, police in separate pre-hartal overnight drives arrested 13 BNP activists from Joydevpur, Tongi, Kaliganj and Kapasia early Thursday.
Many passing vehicles, including buses, trucks and auto-rickshaws were damaged in Gazipur town, Chandana, Rajbari Road and at different points of Mymensingh Road in the morning.
A pro-hartal procession, led by local BNP leader Shakhawat Hossain Sabuj, was brought out from Jorpukurpar in the district town and paraded different roads.
In Rajbari, the Government College students union general secretary and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leader Masumul Haque Taslim was among 18 BNP, JCD and Jubo Dal activists picked up by police from different parts of the town during today`s hartal.
BIWTA and local sources said ferry service was almost normal in Daulatdia-Paturia waterways.
In Thakurgaon, at least 15 BNP activists, including district BNP publicity secretary Abu Taher Dulal, were injured as club-wielding police swooped on a pro-hartal procession at Chourasta (intersection) at the heart of the town at about 1:20 pm.
Police foiled the procession, arresting three BNP activists from the spot.
Barring this incident, hartal was observed in the town and other parts of the northern district peacefully.
In Sherpur, police arrested two people, Russel Mia, 24, and Mollik Hossain, 22, in a pre-hartal drive at Dhankusha on Nakla-Nalitabari road in Nalitabari upazila early Thursday. Police also recovered six lethal weapons from them. They hailed from Nalitabari. It could not be ascertained immediately whether the arrestees were pro-hartal elements. Hartal was by and large peaceful in Sherpur town and elsewhere in the district.
In Patuakhali, the district unit JCD organising secretary was among five opposition activists arrested by police from different parts of the town during the day-long shutdown.
Picketers torched four auto-rickshaws and a cycle-rickshaw and damaged a covered van in the morning.
In Khulna, police in pre-hartal clampdown on opposition arrested BNP`s Khulna city unit joint organizing secretary Masud Parvez Babu and 18 Islami Chhatra Shibir activists from the city and Dakop upazila respectively from Wednesday night to early Thursday.
Babu was rounded up at Jorakal Bazar at Tutpara in the city while 18 Shibir activists were picked up from Belalia Alim Madrasa Masque in Dakop.
In Feni, at least 17 BNP activists were arrested from different parts of the district, including its headquarters sometimes between Wednesday late night and Thursday morning.
Of them three were arrested while picketing in the town at 10:30 am on Thursday and the rest were rounded up from the town and different other areas of the south-eastern district.
In Laxmipur, the day-long shutdown passed without major incidents in the district today.
Twenty-two BNP and Jamaat-Shibir activists were arrested in five upazilas from Wednesday late night to Thursday afternoon.
Of them two were held in sadar upazila and the rest 20 in Raipur, Ramganj, Kamalnagar and Ramgati upazila towns.
In Sylhet, life came to a standstill during day-long shutdown in the district. The city roads were almost empty with almost all private offices, educational institutions, supermarkets, bazaars and shops shut.
No bus left the bus terminals but a couple of trains left Sylhet Rail Station for their respective destinations with much less passengers than other days. A few water vessels plied in Surma, Kushiara, Khoai and other rivers.
Only nationalised banks were open but transaction was thin.
Two pickets were held for picketing in city`s Kazi Ilias area at 9 am and produced before a mobile court which convicted them, slapping Tk 5,000 fine on each, in default 7 days imprisonment.
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