The first day of the three-day general strike, called by the Jamaat-e-Islami protesting the death penalty awarded to its chief Motiur Rahman Nizami for committing crimes against humanity, passed almost peacefully in the capital and other parts of the country yesterday.
Apart from the torching of some vehicles and tyres, no serious violence was reported.
Police detained several Jamaat and Shibir activists in districts, our correspondents reported.
Jamaat enforced the strike on Wednesday, soon after the International Crimes Tribunal 1 pronounced the verdict in the Nizami case. The second phase of the strike will be in effect from 6am on Sunday to 6am on Tuesday.
Dhaka
The capital saw no major untoward incidents yesterday.
Pro-strike activists marched the streets in a few areas and torched some vehicles. The strike had little impact on city life, with the volume of morning traffic on the roads was smaller compared to other workdays but gradually rose as the hours went by.
Police, RAB and BGB patrolled city streets to avert any possible violence.
Train and launch services remained normal but no long-haul buses entered or left the capital.
At least two crude bombs were blasted in Pallabi around 10:30am. Police said two minor boys hurled the bombs and fled.
In Lalbagh, police detained eight people as they were attempting to organise a march.
Police in Mirpur raided a mess at East Monipur and detained six Shibir activists with jihadi books and petrol.
“We also found a paper there showing expenses for holding marches,” said Md Salauddin Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Mirpur police station.
In Fakirapool, two CNG-run autorickshaws were torched and four crude bombs exploded around 11:30am.
A bus was torched in Shyampur but no one was injured. In Hazaribagh, police in the afternoon discovered eight abandoned crude bombs outside a house.
Chittagong
Police detained 10 people in Satkania and Lohagara on charges of plotting subversive acts.
Chittagong Police Super AKM Hafiz Akhter said police were on alert on Dhaka-Chittagong, Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong- Rangamati highways to check any attempt to perpetrate street violence.
Rajshahi
Police held Rajshahi city Jamaat chief Ataur Rahman around 2am yesterday. Four Chhatra Shibir workers were also detained at night.
Motihar police Station Officer-in-Charge Alamgir Hossain said Ataur was detained at his nephew’s house on charges of subversion.
Around 06:30am, Shibir workers picketed the Hadi intersection in an attempt to create panic but fled when RAB arrived.
Shops and businesses remained shut while no long-haul buses left the district.
Sylhet
Police held 58 Jamaat and Shibir men till 12 noon yesterday.
At 10:30am, Shibir activists blockaded the Balaura point on Sylhet-Sunamganj highway for nearly one and a half hours. They placed electric poles to obstruct traffic and also torched tyres.
Police later arrived and dispersed them.
Jessore
A total of 56 people, including 19 activists of Jamaat and Shibir, were held in the district town and eight upazilas, said Jessore police spokesman Reshma Sharmin.
Jessore Police Super Anisur Rahman said 450 policemen in addition to three platoons of BGB were deployed in the district.
Barisal
At least seven Jamaat and Shibir men were detained in the district since Wednesday night, said Golam Rouf Khan, deputy commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police, yesterday.
Several pro-strike marches were organised on the streets but there was no violence except suspension of long-haul road transport.
Water transport services faced no disruption but the passengers were few.
Gaibandha
Ten trucks and a bus were vandalised in Palashbari while police fired 10 rounds to disperse pro-strike activists, said Palashbari police Station Officer-in-Charge Mojibur Rahman.
No one received injuries, he added.
Habiganj
A total of 49 Jamaat and Shibir activists were detained from Wednesday night to early yesterday, said Habiganj Assistant Police Super Masudur Rahman Monir.
Bahubal upazila Jamaat Secretary Advocate Jalal Uddin Akhanji was among the detainees.
Most of the shops remained open and traffic on roads was usual.
Kushtia
Police detained 21 people, including eight Jamaat activists, in a number of areas from Wednesday night till yesterday.
Police and RAB were on alert at key points in the district to avert any untoward situation.
No long-haul buses left the district but trains travelled on schedule.
Lakkhipur
Police detained 11 Jamaat and Shibir activists in Ramganj, Ramgati and Kamalnagar for subversion attempts, said Assistant Superintendent of Police in Lakkhipur Md Nasim Mia.
Jamaat and Shibir men blasted crude bombs, petrol bombs and also torched tyres on streets in addition to organising marches. They were later dispersed by police.
Natore
Marches were held in several parts of the district in support of the strike.
Pro-strike activists torched tyres and blocked the Natore-Rajshahi and Natore-Pabna highways.
Activists of the district unit of Awami League, on the other hand, organised an anti-strike march at the Madrasha crossing led by local lawmaker Shafiqul Islam Shimul.