Sporadic clashes mark first day of 36-hr hartal in dists
45 people injured, 80 pickets arrested
Rapid Action Battalion keeps BNP activists confined to a place in Court Point area of Sylhet city, 2) hartal supporters put large logs to block the road in front of Barisal BM College, 3) picketers damage at least 10 such auto-rickshaws in Patuakhali town, and 4) activists of ruling Awami League and main opposition BNP engage in a clash in Sirajganj town during the first day of 36-hour countrywide hartal enforced by BNP-Jamaat alliance yesterday. Photo: STAR
Sporadic clashes marked the first day of 36-hour hartal in districts enforced by the main opposition BNP and its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami demanding continuation of caretaker government system. At least 45 people were injured and 8o pickets arrested during hartal hours, reports our correspondents. In Sirajganj, the activists of Awami League and BNP clashed in the town, leaving 20 people injured. The injured were admitted to Sirajganj Sadar Hospital and other local clinics. Locals and police said district Al and its associate organisations brought out a procession against hartal at around 12:30pm. BNP activists also brought out another procession in support of hartal. The clashes erupted when the two processions reached in Eliot Bridge area of the town. Both sides used hockey sticks and hurled brick chips at each other during the clash that continued for an hour. Police fired 10 blank shots and tear gas shell to bring the situation under control. In Patuakhali, Hartal supporters ransacked at least 10 auto-rickshaws in chalk Bazar area at around 11:30am. Five auto-rickshaw drivers were injured as picketers beat them up. Police said BNP and its associate bodies took out processions at different places in the district town. They also chanted slogans protesting arrest of BNP leader and former minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury in the capital. Police arrested 10 pickets from different areas in the town. In Tangail, At least 15 leaders and workers of BNP were injured in separate incidents at Mirzapur and Sakhipur during yesterday's hartal. Of them, 10 were hurt at Mirzapur upazila headquarters as police charged batons on them near the bus stand at around 10:00am. The rest five BNP men were injured in Sakhipur when local Chhatra League and Jubo League activists attacked them in the municipal area during hartal hours. In Satkhira, A mobile court sentenced a picketer to ten days imprisonment for damaging auto-rickshaws during hartal int New Market area in the district town. The convict BNP activist is Ali Sumon, 22, son of Ansar Ali Sardar at Chhoygharia village of Sadar upazila. In Dinajpur, A mobile court sentenced two Shibir activists to two months' imprisonment for picketing during the hartal hours in the town. They are Mehedul Islam, 23, son of Shahidul Islam of Segundola village in Nawabganj upazila, and Badrul Islam, 20, son of Kaidi Azam of Chandgaon village under Kishoreganj upazila. In Chittagong, police detained 30 people, including 14 women BNP activists, from different spots on charge of breaking law and order. In Khukna, The first day of hartal passed off peacefully in Khulna city and elsewhere in the district as of filing of this report at 4:30pm yesterday. No report of any untoward incident was received from five police stations of Khulna city. Cargo handling operations at Mongla port continued as usual. In Rajshahi, A mobile court sentenced an activist of Islami Chhatra Shibir to one month's imprisonment. The convict, Rafiqul Islam, is a student of Rajshahi Government College. Police arrested a student named Mahmudul Islam of New Government Degree College at around 12 noon. Both were picked up from in front of Rajshahi Government College for picking during hartal. In Barisal, Stray incidents marked the first day of 36-hour hartal in the city. police took control of city roads and dispersed pro-hartal activists at different points. Police sources said 30 BNP activists were arrested for picketing in different areas of the city.
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