The 36-hour countrywide hartal, enforced by the opposition demanding the release of its leaders and activists, is progressing amid stray incidents of violence across the country on Wednesday.
The shutdown, called by the BNP-led 18-party alliance, began at 6.00am today (Wednesday) and it will continue till 6.00pm tomorrow (Thursday).
Educational institutions remained closed, but government and non-government offices in the city are open, though the attendance is thin.
Rickshaws and auto-rickshaws are dominating the city streets as the presence of motorised vehicles was less. Train services are, however, normal.
Many people were found waiting in distress at different city bus stops and whenever they saw a vehicle they simply scrambled to get into it.
Huge law enforcers were seen guarding the city streets to maintain the law and order.
Only a handful of pro-hartal activists were seen picketing on the city streets.
Around 6.00am, hartal supporters vandalised four buses in front of Matuail Hospital on the city outskirts. Three crude bombs were exploded in the area at that time.
Activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) brought out a procession in the city’s Laxmibazar area around 8.00am when pickets exploded 3-4 crude bombs there. Chased by police, the pickets disappeared.
Another group of JCD activists brought out a procession at Dholaipar at about 7.00 but police dispersed them.
Around 8.00am, JCD activists brought out a procession in Mitford Hospital area only to be dispersed by police dispersed.
JCD men exploded two crude bombs while bringing out a procession at Pallabi in Mirpur at about 6.30am.
Activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student front of Jamaat-e-Islami, brought out a procession at Mirpur-12 around 6.30am. Police gave them a chase and foiled the procession.
Another group of JCD activists blasted two crude bombs in front of Mirpur Ideal School and College at about 6.50am.
Three crude bombs were exploded beside Narcotics Control Department office in Tejgaon at the same time.
Hartal supporters brought out a procession on Shaheed Faruk Road at Jatrabari and exploded two crackers. Later, police dispersed the procession by firing several rubber bullets.
JCD men blocked a road torching tyres at Basabo around 6.30am and fled the scene after being chased by police.
Five female MPs and Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, MP brought out a procession at Jatiya Sangsad south plaza and staged demonstrations there at about 9.45am.
Meanwhile, Dhaka Wasa Sramik Union brought out an anti-hartal procession at Kawran Bazar around 11.10 am.
The UNB news desk also received reports of sporadic clashes, arrests, and arson attacks and vandalism from across the country.
In Sylhet, pickets vandalised a human-hauler at Chauhatta in the city at about 6.00am.
Shibir activists brought out a violent procession from Darshan Deuri area of the city at about 6.00 am and blocked the Sylhet-Sunamganj Highway by burning tyres. Later, they left the scene after blasting several crude bombs.
In Barisal, an incident of chase and counter-chase broke out in Kalijira area around 7am when police obstructed the hartal supporters from picketing, leaving four people, including ASI Anwar of Sadar thana, injured. He was admitted to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in a critical condition.
Hartal supporters vandalised a truck and several battery-run vehicles in different areas of the city.
In Rajshahi, seven people were injured in clashes between hartal supporters and police in Hushniganj area and Fire Brigade intersection of the city around 8.30 am.
In another incident, 10 people, including a policeman, were injured in a clash between police and Shibir activists at Talaimari in the morning.
Earlier, on Wednesday, law enforcers arrested Ansar Ali, BNP vice-president of the city unit, and 10 activists of the party from different areas of the city.
In Chittagong, pickets set a truck ablaze on Dhakak-Chittagong highway at Terial in Sitakunda upazila at about 6:30am. In Sheikhpara area near the upazila headquarters, pickets also set a container lorry and a truck afire.
At Mirerhat Bottola, an incident of chase and counter-chase broke out between hartal supporters and police, leaving seven people injured. At AK Khan Gate in Pahartali, pickets exploded several crude bombs and fled the scene.
In Narayanganj, five people were injured in a series of clashes between hartal supporters and police.
BNP-Jamaat men brought out a procession in support of the hartal on Shayesta Khan Road in Puratan Court area at about 6.00 am. When the procession reached Golachipa intersection, police dispersed it by charging baton, triggering a clash that left five people injured. Pickets blasted five crude bombs during the clash.
In another incident, pickets vandalised a truck and exploded several crude bombs at Ukilpara intersection. When police rushed in, the pickets locked into a clash with them. Police later dispersed them by firing blank shots.
In Khulna, hartal supporters brought out a procession from Hajibari area of the city in the morning and vandalised eight battery-run easy bikes and a pickup van there. They also blasted four crude bombs.
Hartal supporters also blocked Khulna-Bagerhat Highway by placing logs.
In Natore, Shibir activists blocked Dhaka-Natore highway in Harishpur area near Sher-e-Bangla High School by burning tyres in the morning. Later, police dispersed the Shibir activists.
In Gazipur, pro-hartal activists torched a truck loaded with glass at Chandona, Dhaka Road in the morning. The activists also vandalised some vehicles at Bhogra bypass of Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway.
In Gaibandha, pro-hartal activists vandalized four buses and five shops at Palashbari of the district. They also created barricade on Gaibandha-Polashbari road by putting logs and burning tyres in the morning. Later, police withdrew the barricade. Polashbari Thana Police arrested Jubo Dal leader Abdur Rashid Rana during the picketing.
In Feni, Jamaat-Shibir men brought out a procession from the town’s Shishu Niketon area at 6.00 am. They put barricade on the road in front of Land Registration Office by putting stones and burning tyres. The demonstrators left the scene when police appeared at the scene.
In Laxmipur, pro-hartal activists blocked Laxmipur-Dhaka Highway in the morning. They also brought out a procession in the town in support of the hartal and exploded 15-20 crude bombs.
The 18-party opposition alliance called the hartal demanding the release of its leaders and activists arrested from the BNP’s Nayaplatan central office on March 11.
The shutdown is also meant for mounting pressure on the government to restore the non-party caretaker government, forcing the “failed, incompetent and autocratic regime” to quit.
Source: UNBConnect