A 48-hour nationwide shutdown called by Jamaat-e-Islami, whose registration has been ruled void by the High Court, begins on Tuesday at 6am. The eve of the hartal was marked by sporadic violence in the capital.
Jamaat and its student wing Shibir brought out several processions in the city and crude bombs were exploded.
Law enforcers have beefed up security in Dhaka, with special security measures and the deployment of 12,500 additional enforcers from police and Rab.
Activists of Jamaat and Shibir clashed with law enforcers in Mirpur, Pallabi and Moghbazar, where police fired tear gas canisters and blank shots to disperse them.
Police so far have arrested eight people, including five in Pallabi, one in Motijheel and two in Khilgaon.
Jamaat-Shibir activists also exploded crude bombs at Azimpur, Dholaipar, Armanitola, Fakirerpool, Khilgaon, Jatrabari, Jurain and some other places.
Eyewitnesses said in most cases the Jamaat-Shibir men brought out brisk processions and fled the scene before the law enforcers rushed to the spot and they exploded crude bombs to create panic among commuters and locals.
In Mirpur, Jamaat-Shibir men exploded at least six crude bombs when they brought out a procession at Section 10 at around 3:30pm. A clash erupted when police arrived and chased after them. They dispersed when police fired 12 tear gas canisters at them.
About an hour later, the Jamaat-Shibir men regrouped and brought out another procession near Benarashi Palli. Police fired five rounds of blank shots and detained five of the Jamaat-Shibir men.
Abdul Latif, officer-in-charge of Pallabi police station, said police fired some blank shots when some people tried to snatch the detainees.
Another procession was brought out in Moghbazar area where around 20-30 Jamaat-Shibir men went into a rampage, charging several crude bombs. They also blocked the road and lit a fire.
When police gave chase they hurled several crude bombs and fled.
Motijheel Police arrested one of the Shibir activist when some Jamaat-Shibir men brought out a procession near Fakirerpool kitchen market at around 1pm.
Security measures
Apart from the additional police and Rab deployment, 12 mobile courts and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) troops have also been deployed to support law enforcers.
“We have created a security plan to ensure smooth return for the people who left Dhaka on Eid,” DMP Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam said.
“Both uniformed and plainclothes policemen would remain deployed in the city. Check posts have been set up at different strategic points, key installations, terminals and stations and busy other places,” Monirul said.
“The mobile courts will remain vigilant for instant punishment for those who will violate laws and create anarchy,” he added.
Sources at DMP said around 10,000 additional forces would remain deployed in the capital during the hartal.
Wing Commander ATM Habibur Rahman, director of the Legal and Media Wing of Rab, said around 2,500 additional Rab members have been deployed in and around the capital.