The second day of the countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal called by opposition BNP-led 18-party alliance is underway peacefully.
The first day of the hartal ended peacefully Wednesday. Picketing and vandalism was rare and traffic movement in the capital was mild but uninterrupted.
BNP-led 18 party alliance is observing a 24 hour strike to protest “the killing of Hefazat-e-Islam activists.” The second phase of the strike began at 6am today and will end at 6pm.
Law enforcement agencies patrolled Dhaka’s streets actively especially in the Gulshan-Baridhara Diplomatic Zone. Dhaka’s educational institutions remained closed though government and other offices were open.
However, the traffic movement across the city was sparse causing suffering to office-goers. A limited number of BRTC and private buses were seen running in the city. In addition some private vehicles were also on the streets.
Rickshaws and CNG four-wheelers were available in Dhaka all day.
At Mirpur-10 intersection, the rush of vehicles was like any other working day. Most of the shops and markets in the city were closed, though in Gulshan most were open.
Our Noakhali correspondent reports that BNP activists set fire to tyres at Dattarhat and Sonapur Zero Point early in the morning. Picketers blockaded Maijdee-Chowmohani Highway by felling a tree.
Dhaka Tribune Satkhira correspondent reports that BNP and Jamat activists set fire to two vehicles on the Khulna-Sathkira highway in the morning.
The strike passed peacefully in Khulna yesterday, according to our Khulna correspondent.
News agency UNB says in Jamalpur police detained 10 local activists of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal and Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal while they were picketing in the town in the morning. They had blocked the main road torching tyres at Singhajani School intersection of the town.
In Brahmanbaria, at least five people, including two policemen, were injured in a clash between police and BNP-Hefajat men in the morning. Pickets also vandalised two CNG-run auto-rickshaws and one pickup truck.
In Bogra, BNP activists blocked Bagarpara Road by burning tyres and vandalised 10-11 vehicles.
In Natore, Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal activists blocked Natore-Rajshahi Highway at Borogachha and burned tyres.
2,000 cops in city for security Thursday
Some 2,000 policemen and Rab members will be on duty in the capital to ensure security during the delivery of verdict against Jamaat Assistant Secretary General M Kamaruzzaman by the International Crimes Tribunal 2 Thursday.
Uniformed police and intelligence agency personnel were deployed in the city yesterday evening, news agency UNB reports.
Commuters and vehicular movement will be restricted. Traffic and pedestrians will not be allowed from 5am through Doel Chattar, High Court Mazar and Kadam Fountain as part of the security measures.
Several armoured personnel carriers will be deployed in the area.
The security arrangement has been taken keeping in mind the previous violence that took place during the delivery of verdict against Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee.
Deputy Commissioner (Ramna division) Maruf Hossain Sarder said necessary preparations have been taken to avert any untoward incident over the verdict.
