The first day of the fresh 48-hour nationwide hartal, enforced by the BNP-led 18-party alliance, demanding cancellation of the 10th parliamentary elections held on Sunday, passed off peacefully on Monday.The shutdown that will end at 6:00am Wednesday is also meant for protesting the arrest of the opposition leaders and activists. BNP chairperson’s adviser Osman Farroque announced the fresh action programme at a press conference at his Gulshan residence on Sunday afternoon.
In the capital Dhaka, there was no report of any violent incident. No picketing in support of the shutdown was reported either as of 8:00pm. The presence of vehicles on the city streets was relatively thin while law enforcers took position at different strategic points to fend off any trouble. Rickshaws and auto-rickshaws dominated the streets.
However, no long-route bus left Mohakhali, Sayedabad and Gabtoli terminals since morning fearing vandalism. No violent incident was reported to have occurred anywhere in the country. The opposition alliance’s fresh hartal call came hours after the closure of voting for the 10th national election on Sunday that saw low voter turnout and massive violence, leaving 19 people dead across the country. The ruling Awami League, however, swept the violence-hit and low turnout election.
The opposition boycotted the election as its demand for a non-partisan interim government to oversee the polls went unheeded. It also asked the government to quit and take initiatives for holding the election under a non-party caretaker government through talks. – UNB
