18-party unit Gaibandha enforces hartal
Traders in Gaibandha town keep their shutters down during yesterday's eight-hour hartal enforced by the local unit of BNP-led 18-party alliance in protest against police attack on their procession and arrest of 16 activists on Monday. Photo: STAR
A half-day hartal, called by the local unit of BNP-led 18-party alliance, was observed in the district town yesterday. The alliance enforced the 8-hour hartal to protest police attack on their procession and for release of their detained leaders and activists. During the hartal hours, shops, offices and educational institutions remained shut while traffic movement came to a halt. Only trains left the town as usual, said locals, adding that pickets ransacked three coaches of Al-Hamra, BRTC, and SR Paribahan during the shutdown. Earlier, at least 32 people including nine policemen were injured in a clash between police and the activists of the alliance in the town on Monday. The clash ensued as police obstructed a procession, brought out by the activists, while it was proceeding toward Station Road from municipal area at noon. Police also fired 19 rubber bullets, lobbed several teargas shells and arrested 16 activists during the clash. Officer in-charge of Sadar PS Gopal Chakraborty was among the injured while the arrestees include Shibir activist Abu Raihan. Police filed two separate cases against 150 people with Gaibandha police station.
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