The dawn-to-dusk hartal enforced by Chittagong city unit BNP and its allies yesterday ended in relatively relaxed fashion as no pro-hartal activists were seen on the streets picketing in favour of their programme.
Police said no untoward situation took place during the hartal in the city as additional law enforcers were deployed in key points to fend off any unrest. Police were also kept on alert in front of the city BNP office, Nasiman Bhaban, in the city’s Kazir Dewri area.
CMP Additional Commissioner (crime and operation) Banaj Kumar Majumdar said: “No pickets were seen on the streets during the hartal and no unrest reported either.”
Public transports were seen plying different routes in the city during the hartal but the number of cars was relatively less than usual days.
Sources said no inter-district bus left the city but schedule of train services remained unchanged.
Officer-in-Charge Sayed Jakir Hossain of Bar Awlia highway police outpost told the Dhaka Tribune that Dhaka-bound trucks and buses were not operating on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway, fearing attack.
Government and other private offices remained open with usual presence while most educational institutes remained closed considering safety of the students.
Meanwhile, police yesterday produced 261 out of 300 activists held on Monday before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court around 6:30pm. The court ordered them jail.
Local BNP called the hartal protesting the arrest of its Chittagong district (north) unit Convener Aslam Chowdhury and the police attack on their leaders and activists during their rally on Monday.
At least 25 people including 10 policemen were injured during clashes in Kazir Dewri, Nasiman Bhaban, Almas Cinema, MA Aziz Stadium, Enayet Bazar and CWASA intersection areas during the rally.
After the clash, police arrested the 300 persons including Aslam Chowdhury and Enamul Haque and recovered 20 petrol and crude bombs from the BNP office premises.
BNP-Jamaat men sued
Police yesterday lodged two cases accusing several hundred BNP-Jamaat men in connection with the violence and vandalism on Monday.
BNP Chittagong city unit President Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and General Secretary Dr Shahadat Hossain are among the accused.
Kotwali police Sub-Inspector Mohammad Ekramullah lodged a case against 388 named BNP-Jamaat men, including the two senior leaders, and numerous unidentified persons charging them with arson, vandalism, blasts and attacks on police.
Chittagong Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner (Kotwali circle) Shah Mohammad Abdur Rouf said at least 300 of the 388 named accused had been arrested on Monday night.
Meanwhile, SI Mahbub Alam of Chawkbazar police filed another case accusing eight named Islami Chhatra Shibir activists and 150-200 unidentified others of vandalism and blast incidents, OC Atik Ahmed Chowdhury said.