Stray violence during hartal
The last day of BNP-led 18-party alliance's nationwide 36-hour hartal was marked by homemade bomb explosions, vandalism, arson, picketing and arrests across the country.
In Lalmonirhat, BNP men attacked Khuniyagachh Govt Primary School in the morning. They beat up a few teachers and about 60 students of class-II and III, as the school had been kept open.
Besides, at least 15 people including three policemen were injured in a clash between law enforcers and hartal supporters at Binerpota in Satkhira.
In the capital, hartal supporters exploded a number of homemade bombs in Kakrail, Azimpur, Satmasjid Road, Mirpur-2 and in other areas. They torched a vehicle in Gulshan and vandalised 12 more in Jatrabari and Old Dhaka, said police sources.
Pickets also brought out processions in Laxmibazar, New Market, Azimpur, Jatrabari, Kadamtali, Hatirjheel and Mirpur areas of the capital.
The 18-party opposition alliance had called the nationwide shutdown demanding release of its detained leaders and resignation of the government.
In Satkhira, several hundred Jamaat-Shibir activists gathered in Binerpota area, approximately six kilometres from the sadar town, around 6:00am and blocked Satkhira-Khulna highway by digging and felled trees.
They opened fire on police when the law enforcers tried to remove the blockade. Constable Anisur Rahman sustained bullet injury at that time, said Deputy Inspector Shahid Hasan of the Satkhira Detective Branch.
Police then retaliated with bullets to bring the situation under control, he added.
Two more policemen -- Deputy Inspector Rezaul Karim and constable Mostafizur Rahman -- were also injured during the clash. The injured policemen were admitted to Satkhira sadar hospital. Rezaul Karim was later shifted to Khulna Medical College Hospital for better treatment.
Huge contingents of police and border guards have been deployed in the town to ward off any trouble.
In Narayanganj, at least 10 people including two photojournalists of local newspapers were injured during a clash between BNP activists and law enforcers in Nitaiganj area.
Witnesses and police said the clash started around 6:00am when law enforcers tried to intercept a BNP procession. Chase and counter chase took place at the time. Police charged truncheons to calm the situation down, leaving the photojournalists injured.
Police arrested BNP city unit secretary ATM Kamal from the spot.
BNP men also vandalised five vehicles on Dhaka-Chittagong highway near Sonargaon.
In Chapainawabganj, chase and counter chase took place between hartal supporters, and police and Awami League (AL) men in Bus Stand area of Shibganj municipality when pickets set fire to the motorbike of a local ruling party leader, said police.
During the time, hartal supporters blasted homemade bombs leaving an AL leader injured.
Another clash between pickets and AL men at Tikori Bazar of Shibganj upazila left at least five people injured, said police.
In Chittagong, a schoolgirl sustained injury in the right eye when a homemade bomb was blasted by hartal supporters in Momin Road area.
Pro-hartal activists brought out a procession on Momin Road and exploded two bombs there around 7:30am, said Assistant Commissioner Mirza Sayem Mahmud of Kotwali police.
In Chandpur, pickets torched railway sleepers and blocked several roads of the city with trees and burning tyres.
In Khulna, a Shibir activist sustained bullet injuries during a clash with police in Goalkhali area under Khalishpur Police Station around 7:00am.
Incidents of bomb explosion, vandalism and arson also took place in Sirajganj, Feni, Bogra and Rangamati districts.
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