Stray incidents of violence mark BNP enforced hartal
BNP activists burn tyres on the road in front of Government Azizul Haque College in Bogra town, right, a picket vandalises an easy-bike in Bahadur Bazar area of Dinajpur town during the daylong shutdown yesterday.Photo: STAR
The daylong shutdown enforced by main opposition BNP in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions passed off amid stray incidents of violence yesterday. Incidents of arson and vandalism were reported from Bogra, Natore, Thakurgaon and Sirajganj where at least two vehicles were torched and 14 vandalised. BNP enforced the hartal in 16 districts of the two divisions demanding release of its acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and central leader Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu. At least 16 people were also injured in clashes across the districts during hartal, reports our correspondent. Bogra: Pickets vandalised at least five vehicles in the town at around 8:00am.Two cocktails exploded on the Judge's Court premises at around 11:00am. Pro-hartal men set fire to several tyres in front of Azizul Haque College in the morning. Chase and counter-chase also took place between local Awami League men and hartal supporters when the ruling part activists attacked a branch of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited in Adamdighi upazila at around 11:00am. Being informed, police rushed to the spot and dispersed the clashing groups, said Ashraful Islam, assistant superintendent of police (Circle-B). BNP activists took out processions in the town and blocked Bogra-Naogaon road at Arulia point by felling logs. Joypurhat: Two factions of BNP district unit clashed at Thanamore (intersection) in the town during hartal. Md Alamgir Hossain Chowdhury, district correspondent of daily Kaler Kantha and SA Television, and BNP activist Md Ripon were injured during the clash that took place at around 8:30am. Thakurgaon: At least 10 people were injured during chase and counter-chase between Juba League men and pro-hartal activists in the town at around 11:00am.The clashing groups also hurled brick chips at each other. Police fired rubber bullets and tear-gas canisters to disperse the activists of the two groups, said Zahidur Rahman Chowdhury, officer-in-charge of Thakurgaon Police Station. Besides, pickets vandalised at least four vehicles, including a night coach and a bus, in different areas of the town, the OC added. Sirajganj: At least five people were injured during clashes between the activists of BCL and BNP men during hartal in Kazipur and Raiganj upazilas. Pickets torched a goods-laden truck and vandalised two others and a motorbike in Raiganj. They also set fire to a motorbike in Kazipur. Rajshahi: BNP leaders and activists, led by party's Joint Secretary General Mizanur Rahman Minu, brought out a procession at Saheb bazar in the city at around 7:30am. After half an hour, the hartal supporter brought out another procession led by BNP leader and former lawmaker Nadeem Mustafa in the city. Rickshaws and auto-rickshaws were seen plying the city streets. No long-distance bus left or entered the city during hartal hours while all roadside shops remained closed. Rangpur: Pro-hartal activists took out a procession from city BNP office at Grand Hotel intersection at around 9:15am. Rickshaws and auto-rickshaws were seen plying the city streets while train services were normal. Natore: Pickets vandalised two auto-rickshaws in Station Bazar area in the town at around 11:30am. All modes of vehicles except rickshaws went off the roads during hartal hours. Chapainawabganj: Pro-hartal activists staged demonstrations at different points on Chapainawabganj-Rajshahi highway and Chapainawabganj-Sonamasjid land port highway. They also blocked traffic on the roads by burning tyres. BNP leaders and activists also brought out a procession in the town at around 10:00am.
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