The opposition alliance enforced the shutdown from 6am Tuesday demanding the release of its leaders and activists arrested from BNP’s Nayapaltan central office on March 11. The hartal ended at 6pm Thursday.
The shutdown was also meant for mounting pressure on the government to restore the non-party caretaker government, forcing the ‘failed, incompetent and autocratic regime’ to quit.
In Jessore three labourers were killed as a cement-laden truck overturned while running away from pickets at Padmabil under Kotwali Thana in Sadar upazila early Thursday.
The deceased were identified as Uzzal (27), Moslem (30) and Jalil (28).
Besides, at least eight, including four policemen, were injured in clashes between law enforcers and hartal supporters in Satkhira, Rajshahi and Chittagong districts.
However, addressing a post-hartal press briefing at the party’s central office, BNP Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir claimed that over 575 leaders and workers of the party were arrested across the country during the 36-hour shutdown.
“Over 935 leaders and workers were injured and six sentenced to one year in jail by mobile courts and ‘false cases’ filed against 1938 party activists across the country during the hartal,” said Mr Fakhrul.
As on the first day, educational institutions remained closed, but government and non-government offices were open, though the attendance was thin.
Rickshaws and auto-rickshaws dominated the city streets as the presence of motorised vehicles was less. Train services were, however, normal.
Strong contingents of law enforcers guarded the city streets to maintain law and order.
Source: The Financial Express
