Jamaat's hartal goes largely disregarded in Rajshahi divn
Barring a few incidents of violence in three districts, the daylong hartal enforced by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami passed off largely disregarded in Rajshahi division yesterday, according to our correspondents.
Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations were held as per schedule at all centres in the division without any disruption, said Tanvirul Alam, chairman of Rajshahi Education Board.
Jamaat called the hartal in all eight districts of the division protesting arrest of its Rajshahi city ameer Ataur Rahman in Dhaka on Tuesday.
People of Bogra, Natore, Naogaon, Joypurhat and Sirajganj districts rejected the hartal while it ended amid a few stray incidents of violence in Rajshahi, Pabna and Chapainawabganj.
Pickets vandalised two trucks at Kharkhari Bazar at around 8:00am and set fire to tyres in Debishingpara and Binodpur areas of Rajshahi city.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner SM Moniruzzaman said police fired 30 tear gas shells and rubber bullets during a clash with Jamaat-Shibir men in the city. Hartal supporters blasted five hand bombs during the clash that continued for ten minutes, the commissioner added.
Police chased Jamaat-Shibir men while they were gathering at C&B intersection in the morning to bring out a procession. At least 12 Jamaat-Shibir men were picked up from Binodpur, Debishingpara and C&B intersection.
Awami League led 14-party alliance also took out processions in the city, rejecting the hartal.
All educational institutions, shops and markets remained open during hartal hours
Minibuses, public and private cars and a large number of CNG-run three-wheelers were seen plying the city streets. Rickshaws were also found dominating the thoroughfares. Train service was normal.
In Pabna, Jamaat-Shibir men vandalised seven shops at Abdul Hamid and Haji Mohammad roads in the town. Witnesses said the pro-hartal men came to the streets in processions and vandalised the shops. They also vandalised 10 CNG-run auto-rickshaws and battery-run three easy bikes on the roads.
Jamaat-Shibir men blocked Dasuria-Mirkamari Road in Ishwardi upazila and Jalalpur-Pushpapara in Sadar upazila in the morning. Most of the schools and colleges remained open but vehicles except rickshaws and auto-rickshaws were off the roads.
In Chapainawabganj, Jamaat and Shibir activists took out processions and set fire to tyres on Chapainawabganj-Rajshahi highway at Upar Rajarampur and Swarupnagar in the town. No untoward incident took place in the district headquarters during hartal. The Jamaat call shutdown was by and large peaceful in all upazilas of the district.
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