The Dhaka Times Desk The first day of the Jamaat's 48-hour hartal has been marked by widespread vandalism, arson and sporadic clashes with the police. On the first day, 3 people were killed and police shot dead.
On the first day of the hartal across the country including the capital, in scattered clashes with the police, more than half a hundred people including the police were injured by bullets, bombs and brickbats. 3 people died in Feni and Noakhali in attack by picketers. A policeman was seriously injured in firing by Jamaat-Shibir in Satkania of Chittagong. The bullet entered through his chest and exited through his back.
Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, Acting Secretary General of the party, announced this 48-hour strike program in protest of oppression, torture, oppression, mass murder, mass arrests and the release of top leaders of Jamaat including Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah and restoration of caretaker government system in the constitution. The strike period will end at 6 am on Friday morning.
The commercial centers of the capital and Chittagong were closed due to the strike. Office-court, bank-insurance were open. Although the educational institutions were open, there were no classes in most of the institutions. Markets and shops were completely closed. There was a massive police clash with the Islamic student camp in the capital's Paltan and its surrounding areas on Wednesday around 7:30 p.m. This time camp cadres set fire to 3 motorcycles.
Yesterday, no bus left Syedabad, Gabtali and Mohakhali terminals in the capital and did not come to Dhaka. Train and launch movement was normal. A small number of passenger buses, minibuses, CNG-powered auto-rickshaws and various vehicles are plying in urban transport. Additional members of the law and order force have been deployed at various places in the capital to control the law and order situation. The police, RAB, APBN and SPBN members blocked the road with barricades in various sensitive areas including Ganobhaban, Secretariat and High Court. Mobile courts are seen stationed along with law and order forces at several places. BGB members have been deployed in different parts of the country to prevent violence. Yesterday the mobile court jailed 2 people in the capital. Police arrested two Jamaat workers red-handed around 7:30 am while picketing in South Banshri area. They are Shafiullah (45) and Kamal Hossain (35). According to the Khilgaon police station, after their arrest, the mobile court judge executive magistrate Shamim Banu Shanti sentenced them to prison. Shafiullah was sentenced to 1 year imprisonment and Kamal Hossain was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment and sent to jail.
Chhatra League and Jubo League workers marched against the hartal on the first day on Wednesday at various places in the capital. An anti-hartal march was seen in the capital's Farmgate and Caravan Bazar after a short while under the security cordon of RAB and police. Various slogans in support of Awami League and against war criminals and strike were heard in the processions. Anti-hartal processions were taken out at Mirpur Roundabout 10, Mirpur 12, Mirpur 1, Mirpur 14 and Agargaon, Shahbagh, Banglamotor, Malibagh and Mouchak areas.
Nationwide strike: Vandalism, arson, protest marches, road blockades and clashes with the police have marked the first day of the nationwide strike.
Today, the second day of the strike is being observed fairly peacefully. As of writing this report in the morning, there was no news of any major sabotage. Markets in the capital are closed. Office-Court is open. A lot of rickshaws including minibuses, CNG were seen plying in the capital. Train, launch movement is normal. However, no long-distance bus left.
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