The first day of a 48-hour countrywide hartal, enforced by the BNP and like-minded opposition parties protesting the election schedule, ended in the capital on Sunday without any reports of clashes.
However, even though several arsons took place in the capital from Saturday evening until Sunday night, there were no casualties.
Commuters, especially patients, students, and job holders, suffered greatly as there were fewer public transports and offices, factories, and educational institutions remained open.
The number of public transports on Dhaka streets was fewer than that during the blockades. Many were seen heading towards their destinations on foot amid heightened tension and fear of violence.
Rickshaws were seen dominating the Dhaka streets, while the number of private vehicles was very low.
This is, in fact, the second nationwide hartal, as the Left Democratic Alliance, a platform of left-leaning political parties, enforced a half-day hartal starting at 6am on Thursday.
The opposition parties called the latest hartal after they had observed five countrywide blockades of roads, rail, and waterways.
The blockades were marked by the frequent burning of vehicles, particularly buses, in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country. A dozen people have been killed in the violence since October 28.
The presence of law enforcement personnel at several points in Dhaka was higher on Sunday compared to the previous blockades.
Some 28 platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh and 460 patrol teams of RAB members were deployed in Dhaka and adjoining districts to avoid any untoward incidents.
Between 6pm on Saturday and 9am on Sunday, Dhaka city registered at least six arsons. At least three buses were set ablaze in parts of the city late on Saturday night.
Miscreants exploded three crude bombs in front of the residence of Dhaka University's vice chancellor on Saturday night, spreading panic among students. A cocktail explosion was reported near Gulistan around the same time.
At a press briefing on Saturday, BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi called upon people from all walks of life and opposition leaders and activists to observe the hartal peacefully and make it a success.
Long-haul buses face a passenger crisis
In defiance of the hartal, owners of long-distance bus companies kept their operations running. However, an acute shortage of passengers from and to the capital city saw hardly any buses leaving or entering Dhaka.
Three major terminals—Gatali, Sayedabad, and Mahakhali—were almost deserted of passengers on Sunday, with transport workers sitting idle there.
“If hartals and blockades continue this way, we’ll be in rather greater danger soon,” said Md Suman, an employee of a bus company.
“Till this (Sunday) afternoon, I only got a passenger who asked me whether or not any bus would leave the terminal,” said a frustrated Suman.
Md Azad, who was trying to catch a bus to Bogra at the Gabtoli terminal, said: “I’m here with my child to visit Bogra. But it is not clear as yet if any bus will set off even at night."
The passenger finally returned home after failing to board a bus in the afternoon.
Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association General Secretary Enayet Ullah Khandoker on Saturday vowed to continue bus services across the country amid the hartal.
Situation normal in BNP office area
Despite the hartal, the situation in front of the BNP office at Naya Paltan remained normal. While the BNP office remained locked since October 28, most surrounding shopping malls were open yesterday. The movement of the general public and traffic in this area was comparatively higher.
The strikes and blockades have caused daily arson and explosions in the capital. In support, the BNP and other opposition groups are protesting across the city. However, the area around the BNP's office is an exception, where the strike and blockade have had no impact.
