AL enforces countrywide hartal today

However, the AL has kept Netrakona outside the purview of the hartal, considering the August 21 parliamentary by-polls in the Netrakona-3 constituency.

The decision to enforce the general strike was taken earlier at a meeting chaired by AL chief Sheikh Hasina prior to her departure on August 7 on a two-week tour of Canada and USA.

Traditionally, while in opposition, AL enforced hartal on August 15, the day of Bangabandhu's assassination, but this year the day coincided with the weekly holiday shifting the hartal to August 16.

AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil urged all to make today's hartal a success.

On the other hand, the police administration has decided to deploy a 4,500-strong police force to maintain law and order in the capital during the hartal hours today.

UNB adds: Police might videotape all violent picketers in the capital today.

Police cameramen would be posted at strategic points including Russel Square, Bangabandhu Avenue and Mirpur areas to videotape any unruly incidents like damaging cars or pelting brickbats at law enforcers during the hartal hours.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Ashraful Huda reportedly instructed his officers in this regard at a briefing at the police control room yesterday.

Sources said police would take action against activists involved in violent pickets after identifying them in the video films.