The number of cars and people on the streets made it nearly impossible to notice that a two-day countrywide shutdown was being enforced by the opposition alliance yesterday.
Luxury vehicles, including costly SUVs, were plying the streets of Gulshan, Banani and Mohakhali, which is unusual on hartals days.
“The comparatively loose hartal on the first day [Wednesday] encouraged me to bring my own car out on the streets,” Dhaka resident Md Gias Uddin told the Dhaka Tribune at Banani, while on his way back from Shahjalal International Airport in Uttara.
Public transport, including buses on routes such as BTRC, was available throughout the day, though there were fewer than on general days. The roads were largely occupied by rickshaws, CNGs and electric auto-rickshaws. Instances of picketing, blockages and vandalism, which until now defined a hartal day, was also low.
The two-day general strike was called by the opposition to protest the “killing” of Hefazat activists as law-enforcers removed them from Shapla Chattar, where they were staging an unannounced sit-in.
Law enforcers maintained strict vigil ahead of war crimes verdict against Mohammad Kamaruzzaman for his role in the 1971 Liberation War. Most educational institutions were closed although government and private offices were open.
Most of the shops and markets in the city were closed except for certain areas such as Gulshan, Banani, Mohakhali and Mirpur, where some were open.
In Barisal, the last day of the nationwide shutdown ended loosely amid stray incidents of road blocking and the ransacking of vehicles. Most districts reported a similar situation.
In addition, 13 BNP activists were detained in different parts of the capital during the second day of hartal. The police also recovered three crude hand bombs, according to Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Shatkhira police also detained six BNP activists in a bid to avoid mayhem during the shutdown.
