The Jamaat-e-Islami declared a 48-hour nationwide shut down starting at 6am today, after the Supreme Court delivered the death penalty to Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla.
In a statement rejecting the Supreme Court verdict, the party’s acting secretary general Rafiqul Islam Khan announced the hartal.
Law enforcement agencies have been placed on alert and personnel deployed at key points in Dhaka capital and across the country. Inspector General (IG) of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandker told the Dhaka Tribune that they have taken all necessary steps to ensure law and order.
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Director General Mukhlesur Rahman said an additional force of Rab would also be on duty at all major points across the country. While the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have also been instructed to be on standby and undertake all necessary actions as and when the situation demands, said Brig Gen Aziz Ahmed of BGB. Tuesday, Jamaat-Shibir activists went on the rampage when Abdul Quader Molla’s
Death penalty was announced, unleashing violence as they protested in Dhaka, Chittagong, Bogra, Natore and Maulvibazar.
In Dhaka’s Bijaynagar, Azimpur and Moghbazar there were protest processions. Golam Sarwar, officer-in-charge (OC) of Paltan police station told the Dhaka Tribune four men were detained for exploding crude bombs and vandalising in Bijaynagar around 2.30pm.
Five vehicles were burned in Moghbazar and Bijoy Sharani. In Jatrabari, Jamaat-Shibir activists vandalised 12 vehicles and exploded crude bombs, said Rafiqul Islam, said OC of Jatrabari police station.
Our Chittagong correspondent reported at least five policemen were injured in clashes with Jamaat-Shibir in Enayet bazaar and Jubilee Road, who exploded up to 20 crude bombs, torched three vehicles, including a police truck and vandalised five other vehicles.
The injured police officers were being treated at Dampara Police Line’s hospital, said Additional Commissioner Banaz Kumar Majumder.
In Natore, a dozen people were injured when Jamaat-Shibir clashed with police in Horishpur Bypass area and the police fired rubber bullets to bring the situation under control, said Superintendent of Natore police Nahid Hossain.
In Maulvibazar, Jamaat-Shibir men vandalised five shops, two CNG-run auto-rickshaws and a bus around 1pm in Uttor Para Bazar of Borolekha upazila. In protest, activists of Awami League, Chhatra League and Sramik League blocked the main road in Borolekha town around 3:30pm, said Selim Newaz OC of Borolekha police station.
