Chhatra Dal leaders and activists have been accused of vandalizing a CNG-run auto-rickshaw and a private car in front of Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka University (DU) campus.
At least 30 Chhatra Dal activists carried out a procession, starting from Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s emergency gate to Jagannath Hall premises, to express solidarity with the hartal called by BNP on Sunday.
DU unit Chhatra Dal convenor Rakibul Islam Rakib denied the allegation and said: "We have carried out our procession peacefully, with members of law enforcement agencies patrolling the area.
"None of my fellows were involved in any vandalism."
The owner of the CNG-run auto-rickshaw Abdul Malek told Dhaka Tribune that his vehicle was vandalized by hartal supporters in front of Shaheed Minar around 12:15pm.
The vandalized vehicle is now under the custody of Shahbagh police station, he added.
Chhatra Dal activists bring out a procession at Dhaka University campus on February 2, 2020 | Dhaka TribuneBNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called for the dawn-to-dusk hartal in Dhaka, protesting against alleged massive vote frauds in the city corporation elections.
Awami League mayoral candidates were declared elected in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). The voting ran across a total of 2,468 polling centres of the two city corporations from 8am and continued till 4pm without any break on Saturday.
However, when our correspondent visited New Elephant road, New Market, Shahbagh, Paltan, Naya Paltan, Motijheel, Gulistan and Old Dhaka area, he found the vehicular movement normal.
Some public transports were parked on the streets near Bangabandhu National Stadium and Motsho Bhaban, but little traffic were seen at different signals.
Police and Rapid Action Battalion were seen patrolling these areas.