The Dhaka Times Desk The midnight strike called by BNP and 18 parties has started. Although some attempts were made to disrupt the strike, the strike program is being observed laxly.
The strike called to demand the release of BNP Acting General Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will start from 6 am and will continue till 2 pm. There have been reports of cocktail explosions in different parts of the country including the capital Dhaka. The long-distance bus did not leave. However, there are enough local buses running in the capital. A car was vandalized at Jatrabari. The picketers retreated unable to facilitate as the police remained in a tight position. BNP has marched in different parts of the country. Processions and rallies were held in various divisional cities including Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal. BNP leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury led a march and rally in Chittagong in the morning. In the morning, some people were injured when the workers of Islami Chhatra Shibir clashed with the police near the gate of Rajshahi University. Since morning, reports of scattered picketing have also come from Barisal.
At least six cars were burnt in the capital the night before the strike. Inspector Alam Bhuiyan of Paltan Model Police Station said that at least three hand grenades were detonated near the BNP offices in Vijaynagar and Nayapaltan around 6:30 am after the strike started today. Like the last few days, the BNP office was surrounded by a large number of police on the morning of the strike. Eyewitnesses said that when the Chhatra Dal workers took out a procession at around 7:30 am, a hand grenade was also detonated there. Hand grenade explosions were also reported in Ahmad Bagh area of Basabor. Eyewitnesses said that when the Chhatra Dal workers took out a procession at around 7:30 am, a hand grenade was also detonated there. Hand grenade explosions were also reported in Ahmad Bagh area of Basabor. In Kantaban, Jamaat-e-Islami activists pelted stones at the police and vandalized a few cars. Also, the opposition party workers tried to hold jhatka processions in support of the hartal in different parts of the capital, police said.
'We have orders to shoot'
Bangladesh News24 said five cocktails were detonated in front of Shah Ali Bagh Bishil Adarsh Vidyalaya at Mirpur 1 at 7:30 am during Thursday's nationwide strike called by 18 groups.
At the same time, when the picketers tried to block the road by setting tires on fire, the law and order forces dispersed in pursuit. At 7:40 AM, the picketers tried to vandalize the bus, but on police warning, everyone folded the banners and left.
In this regard, Inspector (Investigation) of Darus Salam police station Kawsar Ahmed said that suddenly some people came and exploded five cocktails together and left. He said the vandalism lasted only a few minutes. When the picketers tried to set the bus on fire and vandalize the bus, the picketers fled after chasing them.
He also said, “I could shoot them (picketers) but I could not shoot for the journalists. We have orders to fire today.” He told reporters, "If there is fire and vandalism somewhere, you will stay away.
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