A dawn-to-dusk strike in Bogra on Saturday was marred by sporadic violence unleashed by supporters of the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student affiliate Islami Chhatra Shibir .
The Jamaat called the strike to ‘avenge the killing of its supporters’. It began amidst a tense stand-off between Jamaat supporters and the police.
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been kept on stand-by , said Bogra District Administrator Sarwar Mahmud. “They will be deployed if needed.”
Bogra Sadr Police Station Officer in-Charge Syed Shahid Alam told bdnews24.com pro-strike activists hurled brickbats from a procession on the Bogra bypass road adjacent to Medical College area around 8:00am.
According to him , the activists also threw five locally-made bombs at a police vehicle from the procession.
Bogra Sherpur Police Station OC Amirul Islam said Shibir activists took out a procession on Bogra-Dhaka highway at Sheruabattala area in Sherpur upazila. “At least five vehicles were damaged there.”
According to the OC, Shibir men and law enforcers were involved in a cat-and-mouse chase in the area. One Shibir activist was nabbed .
bdnews24.com Bogra Correspondent reported of frequent patrols by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and heavy deployment of police throughout the city.
According to him, long distance buses were grounded since morning. Only a few rickshaws were plying streets. Shops and establishments were also closed.
Office and school-goers were seen waiting at several points.
On Friday, hundreds of Jamaat-Shibir men gathered at Bogra to attend the Namaj-e-Janaza of those killed during Thursday’s strike.
Eyewitnesses said Jamaat supporters have flocked to the city in buses from Joypurhat, Sirajganj, Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Natore, Gaibandha and Rangpur districts.
Jamaat leaders threatened to avenge the killings unless actions were taken against ‘the killers’. They blamed the police and the supporters of the pro-Awami League student group, Chatra League, for the killings.bdnews24.com
