The hartal, which was called by the banned Chhatra League was not observed in the Kotalipara upazila of Gopalganj, a well-known stronghold of the Awami League. While a torch procession was carried out late on Monday night in support of the strike by the banned student organization Kotalipara Chhatra League, its leaders, and activists were absent at the time of hartal on Tuesday.
On Monday night, a torch procession took place in the Narayankhana area, led by Shamim Daria, general secretary of the banned Kotalipara unit of Chhatra League.
However, on Tuesday, during the hartal, no Awami League leaders or activists from its affiliated organizations were seen holding processions, meetings, or picketing in support of the strike anywhere in the upazila.
Life in the upazila remained normal, with vehicular movement on all roads continuing as usual. Buses were seen leaving for Dhaka and other long-distance routes. Schools, colleges, and government and private offices operated without disruption.
Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, party leaders and activists initiated protests demanding the return of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Cases were filed against Awami League members for incidents such as torching army vehicles and the killing of the central sports secretary of the central Swechhasebak Dal. Law enforcement agencies began arresting party activists, prompting many to go into hiding.
Since then, Awami League leaders and activists have not been visibly active in the field.
Monday night's torch procession was their first public political activity under the party’s banner.
However, despite this late-night show of support, senior leaders and activists of the Awami League stronghold did not take to the streets during the time of hartal on Tuesday.
Shamim Daria, general secretary of the banned Kotalipara unit of Chhatra League, said: “On Monday night, we organized a torch procession to make Tuesday's hartal successful. However, due to the absence of senior leaders and fear of harassment by the administration, we could not take to the streets during the day.”
He added: “In the future, we will carry out all our programs successfully in this upazila. We hope that our senior leaders will stand by us. We will not return home until we bring back our beloved leader, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.”