The first day of the 84-hour non-stop hartal enforced by the BNP-led 18-party alliance passed off amid stray incidents and tight security measures in divisional cities.
Our Barisal correspondent reports: A peaceful hartal was observed in Barisal on Sunday with stray incidents.
The personal office of city unit Chhatra League President Jasimuddin in Sagordi area was blazed by pro-hartal activists early morning.
Jasimuddin claimed that properties worth Tk300,000 had been destroyed in the fire and he would file a case against the perpetrators in this connection.
At least two tempos and a battery-run auto rickshaw were also torched in the city in the morning. Maruf Hossain, 26, driver of the torched auto-rickshaw sustained burn injuries while trying to extinguish the flame and has been admitted to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.
Police arrested at least three picketers till the filing of this report from different areas.
Police sources said the number of arrested opposition activists reached to 23 within last 24 hours.
BCC councillor and Jubo Dal leader Syed Akbar Hossain was arrested by Rab in the afternoon. Rab sources said Syed Akbar was a listed terrorist and would be handed over to police after interrogation.
Chhatra League activists organised an anti-hartal motorcycle showdown on city roads.
Anti-hartal picketers led by city AL President Shawkat Hossain Hiron and Secretary Afzal Hossain marched on the city roads and held rallies in front of their office at Sohel Square.
Number of rickshaws and motorised three-wheelers were less than normal on Sunday. Water routes were also relaxed as there were fewer passengers. Administrative and judicial offices and educational institutions functioned with less attendances.
In Chiitagong, the first day’s hartal was observed peaceful as there was no major incident reported from any part of the city.
Hartal supporters hurled a number of handmade bombs in different areas, damaging a CNG-run three wheelers.
Rickshaws and some CNG-run auto-rickshaws were seen plying the streets. Attendances in public, private offices and banks were poor comparing normal days.
However, the long distance and inter-district buses stayed off the road.
In Rangpur, the hartal passed off amid stray incidents and tight security measures, reports BSS.
Leaders and activists of BNP and its front organisations brought out several protest processions in the city.
Besides, the leaders and activists of Jamaat-Shibir brought out processions in different and put up barricade on road, set fire to tiers, attacked and torched several auto rickshaws and motorcycles.
On the other hand, Rangpur district and city units of AL and its front organisations brought out processions in the city and arranged rally protesting the opposition’s hartal.
A huge number of police, RAB and BGB personnel have been deployed in Shapla Chattar, Grand Hotel Mour, Jahaz Company Mour, Paira Chattar, Dhap Pakar Matha, Parker Mour, Modern Mour, Central Bus Terminal and other places and check posts have been set up in the city for maintaining law and order.
The common life remained partially affected during the first day’s hartal period though rickshaws, auto-bikes, bicycles and motorcycles plied in the streets. Long route buses, trucks and heavy vehicles have been staying off the roads and highways.
Activities in the government offices, business establishments and financial and educational institutions activities were almost normal and while the common people carried out their daily works including farm activities.
Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali police station Syed Shahabuddin Khalifa said no major untoward incident occurred so far and the law enforcement agencies have been on high alert to maintain law and order.
In Rajshahi, pickets vandalised a covered van in Katakhali Deopara area of the city in the morning. Police arrested a total of 13 BNP and Jamaat supporters from Motihar and Boalia area of the city during the hartal hours, reports UNB.
In Sylhet, associate bodies of main opposition BNP held a rally at the city’s Zinda Bazar at about 9 am. Meanwhile, Chhatra Dal activists beat a Shibir activist in front of City Centre around 8:30am for riding a rickshaw in the hartal hours.