Sporadic clashes mark third day of BNP-called hartal
The third consecutive daylong general strike passed off with sporadic incidents of violence in districts across the country yesterday.
BNP enforced the countywide shutdown to protest the disappearance of the party's Organising Secretary (Sylhet division) and former lawmaker M Ilias Ali.
At least 90 pickets were picked up from different districts while more than 60 people, including five cops, were injured in clashes during yesterday's hartal, report our correspondents.
In Chittagong: A passenger bus was set on fire at Alanker under Pahartali Police Station in the morning.
A picket was caught red handed while setting fire to a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in C & B area under Chandgaon Police Station at around 10:00am.
Kotwali police picked up two people on charge of vandalising a BRTC bus at Kadamtoli and another one from in front of New Market.
BNP city unit held a rally in front of its office at Kazir Dewri. Senior party leaders Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Abdullah al Noman and Dr Shahadat Hossain addressed the rally.
Six leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, who were arrested in Barik Buliding area in the morning, were produced in a court in the afternoon.
They were sued under the Speedy Trial Act on charge of putting barricades on road. Arefin Jewel, assistant commissioner (AC) of Double Mooring Zone, said the court sent the arrestees to jail.
As many as 13 people were picked up from different areas of the city during hartal hours.
In Khulna: Police fired two tear gas shells and a rubber bullet to disperse Chhatra Dal activists who brought out a procession at TB boundary road in the city at 7:30am.
Chhatra Dal activists hurled brick chips at police, leaving ASI Selim and patrol inspector Abdul Halim, havilder Aftab Ahmed, constable Dulal Molla and photojournalist Mamun Reza injured.
A petrol bomb was thrown targeting police at Moulavipara road. According to police, two unidentified men threw the bomb from a motorcycle. None was injured.
Three people, including photojournalist Rabiul Islam Ujjal, were injured during chase and counter chase between the activists of Chhatra Dal and Chhatra League at Daulatpur in the city at around 8:30am.
According to city special branch of police, they picked up four JCD activists from different spots.
Meanwhile, at least eight activists of BNP and its student wing JCD were injured, three of them severely, as they came under attack allegedly by Jubo league and Chhatra League men in front of BNP office at KD Ghose Road at around 12:15pm.
In Barisal: Hartal supporter torched a truck and an auto-tempo (three-wheeler) at C &B Road and a bus at Nathullabad central bus terminal. They also damaged a number of vehicles and rickshaws at different parts of the city.
At least 11 people were injured when police charged batons on processions in Rahamatpur and Polashpur areas.
At least 17 pro-hartal activists arrested in six districts of Barisal division during yesterday's hartal, according to Barisal Divisional Range and Metropolitan Police sources.
Most of the rickshaws and all motorised vehicles stayed off the city streets.
In Rangpur: Stray incidents marked hartal in the town. All motorised vehicles were off the roads during hartal hours. Shops and educational institutions remained closed and attendance in private offices was thin.
On Monday night, police charged batons on a Jubo Dal procession in Grand Hotel area. Two local Jubo Dal leaders--Humayun Kabir and Sajjad Hossain--were picked up from there.
Meanwhile, Kaunia upazila BNP office was vandalised allegedly by Awami League men. Police fired four rubber bullets and charged tear gas shells to bring the the situation under control.
In Dinajpur: At least 20 people were injured and 10 motorbikes and three bicycles were burnt during a clash between the activists of BNP and AL at Ranirbandar Bazar under Chirirbandar upazila yesterday afternoon.
Locals said two roadside shops were looted during the clash that continued for an hour.
According to the witnesses, an anti-Hartal motorcycle procession led by AL leader of Chirirbandar upazila Abu Hena Chhoton was heading to Raniganj Bazar where the BNP and Jamaat men were picketing.
When the procession reached at the bazarat around 12:00pm, pro hartal men swooped on it, reslting in a fierce clash between the two sides.
The BNP activists damaged at least 10 motorbikes and set fire to 10 others and three bicycles. Houses and shops of Md Abdul Motin, a leader of Raniganj AL, were looted during the clash.
Being informed, Additional police led by Police Superintendent Md Moinul Islam rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control at around 3.00pm.
On the other hand, at around 30 BNP activists were arrested while picketing at different places in the district.
In Mymensingh: Pro-hartal activists removed fish-plates from Mymensingh-Gouripur railway line near Biska Railway Station early yesterday, resulting in disruption in train communication on the route for four hours.
police arrested four pro-hartal activists from Mymensingh town and Gafargoan upazila headquarters yesterday.
In Netrakona: AL activists vandalised district BNP office on Monday night. Police picked up the two JCD activists from the Kurpar area of the town while they were picketing.
In Magura: Police and BNP men clashed on Magura-Faridpur highway near the Baparipara mosque in Parnanduali area at around 7:30am, leaving at least five people injured.
Police fired 13 rubber bullets and lobbed tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.
Acting Superintendent of Police Mohammad Sajjadur Rahman said police fired rubber bullets and tear gas shells to disperse the pickets who were damaging several vehicles on the highway.
Police also recovered a bomb from Bhaina area in Magura town and defused it. They picked up at least 13 people from different parts of the district.
In Khagrachhari: At least seven people, including a cop, were injured in a clash between AL and BNP men in Kalabagan area of the town during yesterday's daylong hartal.
Of the injured Sub-Inspector of Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station Obaidur Rahman, 29, Joint Secretary of Khagrachhari District Chhatra Dal Mizanur Rahman and its member Trijal Tripura were admitted to Khagrachhari Adhunik Sadar Hospital while the rest were given first aid, according to hospital sources.
Officer In-charge of Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station Mostafizur Rahman said police opened 20 to 30 tear gas shells and fired rubber bullets to disperse the clashing groups.
In Rangamati: Police picked up three local JCD leaders during hartal hours. They also used truncheons to disperser pickets from different points in the town.
Pro-hartal supporters brought out processions in the town and at different upazilas headquarters including Naniachar, Longudu, Kawkhali and Baghaichhari during hartal hours.
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