At least eight people were killed in Lalmonirhat, Joypurhat and Laxmipur districts as the daylong nationwide hartal, enforced by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami protesting the execution of its leader Abdul Quader Mollah, was marked by violent incidents like clashes at different parts of the country on Sunday.
In Lalmonirhat, four people, including three Islami Chhatra Shibir men and a Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activist, were killed and 15
others injured, seven with bullets, as Jamaat-Shibir men clashed with cops and ruling party workers in Patgram upazila.
The deceased were identified as Monirul Islam, 25, president of Shibir Patgram upazila unit, Shibir activists Abdur Rahim, 22, and Saju
Islam, and BCL functionary Mintu.
The Shibir men were killed in police firing while the BCL activist was beaten to death by the Jamaat-Shibir workers.
In Joypurhat, three people were killed and 12 others injured as Jamaat-Shibir men clashed with cops in Halutti area in the afternoon.
The deceased were identified as Firoz Hossain, 30, a van puller and son of late Fazlur Rahman, Insan, 27, son of Momtaj Ali of Halutti
village, and Shakib, Hossain, 25, son of Iqbal Hossain of Jalatul village in the upazila.
Amid the sporadic violence, the picketers removed fishplates of the rail track near Annadanagar station in Pirgachha upazila, suspending
the train communications on Rangpur-Kurigram-Dinajpur route as the engine and two bogies of an inspection train derailed early Sunday.
Meanwhile, 18-party alliance leaders of Noakhali called a dawn to dusk hartal in the district, protesting the killing of their leaders and
activists on Saturday in the firing of law enforcers during a clash, leaving six killed.
In Lalmonirhat, four people were killed and 15 others injured including six bullet injury in a clash with police at Sareyarbazar
area of Jagotber union under Patgram upazila of the district on Sunday morning.
The deceased were identified as Monirul Islam, 23, president of Patgram upazila unit Chhatra Shibir, two Shibir activists- Abdur
Rahim, 25, and Saju, 22, and Juba League activist Mintu,45.
Witnesses said activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Chhatra Shibir put barricades on a road in Sareyarbazar area around 6
am in support of their daylong hartal.
As police and a group of Chhatra League men chased them, the Jamaat-Shibir activists exploded crude bombs and hurled brickbats at
the law enforcers, triggering a fierce clash, leaving Rahim and Mintu dead on the spot and 25 others injured.
Of the injured, Monirul died on the way to hospital while Saju succumbed to his injuries at Patgram upazila health complex. The other
injured were admitted to different hospitals and clinics.
However, Juba League activist Mintu was attacked and chopped by Shibir activist at Mirjarcourt area of the area and he was taken to Patgram health complex where he was died.
After the incident clashes erupted in different areas. Activist of both ruling and opposition attacked houses and shops each others.
Houses of Asir uddin, chairman of Burimari union and BNP union president, houses of Abdus Salam Bakul, principal of Barokhata College
and Hasanujjaman came under arson attack.
Later fire service rushed to the spot and doused the fire. Additional Police and BGB deployed in the area to avert further violence. Local
administration imposed section 144 in the area to 11 pm, our correspondent reports.
In Joypurhat, a van puller was killed when violence erupted between Jamaat-Shibir activists and police at the Puranapoil area of the Sadar
upazila in the afternoon, leaving 10 people bullet injured when police opened fire during the clash.
The deceased was identified as Firoz Hossain, 30, and Sakib Hossain 20, who died on the spot. However, Jamaat claimed Firoz as their
activist.
Witnesses said the clash erupted around 4:30pm when several hundreds of Jamaat-Shibir men took position on the street in support of their
today’s countrywide hartal. The hartal supporters blasted four petrol bombs targeting the Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank at the Puranapoil
area. When police rushed to the spot, the picketers hurled crude bombs and attack police with arrows. Police in retaliation opened fire,
leaving Firoz, who was standing afar, dead.
At least 15 unidentified miscreants chopped the district BCL General secretary Mirajul Islam, 30, to death on Laximpur-Raypur highway near
Panpara in the district at about 5:30 pm and injured another BCL worker Masudur Rahman.
Witnesses and police said, when Mirajul with other BCL workers were chatting near road side teastall at the Laximpur–Raypur highway.
Suddenly alleged Jammat-Shibir activists came to the spot and attacked with sharp weapons, leaving Mirajul Islam killed on the spot
Officer in Charge of Raypur police station Rupak Kumar Shaha told the Independent that they recovered body and send to hospital morgue.
In Chittagong, some unidentified people hurled two crude bombs at the village home of Water Resources Minister and Jatiya Party leader
Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud at Sadek Nagar in Hathazari upazila early Sunday.
AFM Nizam Uddin, Assistant Superintendent of Police (Hathazari circle), said miscreants hurled the crude bombs at the residence of
Anisul Islam Mahmud at about 4:30 am. However, no one was hurt in the incident, he said.
While violence was continuing in different parts of the country, in the capital, picketers torched a CNG-driven auto rickshaw in Demra
area around 6:30am.
Besides, several crude bombs were exploded in Khejurbagan area in Manik Mia Avenue around 7:10am.
Police in a drive on Sunday morning arrested two activists of Chhatra Shibir along with huge quantity of gun powder from a house at
Kalayanpur in the city.
The arrestees were identified as Khaled, 45, and Sajid, 25.
RAB helicopters patrolled the Capital Dhaka from air keeping eyes on the possible troubled spots during the hartal hour.
In Dhaka, Jamaat-Shibir activists brought out procession on Sunday in favour of their countrywide shutdown at different parts in the city
locked clashes with the law enforcers leaving 10 people injured.
The law enforcers arrested eight Jamaat-Shibir activists on charge of vandalising and preventing police from discharging their duties.
In Bashabo, president of Chhatra Shibir Dhaka East Zone Rashedul Hasan Rana brought out a procession at around 8:30am. The precession marched towards to Madertek area and tried to put barricade on the road.
On information police rushed to the scene and fired several gunshots and teargas canisters to disperse the precisionists leaving at least
six people injured.
Shibir Dhaka East Zone Rashedul Hasan Rana claimed that police attacked on their peaceful procession without any provocation and
arrested their five activists from the spot, but their activists brought out procession at Mughdapara, Khilgaon and Lalbagh area facing
the police obstruction.
At Jatrabari, a group of Chhatra Shibir activists led by president of Chhatra Shibir Dhaka West Zone Shahin Ahmed Khan brought out a
procession at Jatrabari area and marched towards the Shanirakhr area at around 7:30am and tried to put barricade on the road.
On information police rushed to the scene and fired several gunshots and teargas canisters to disperse the precisionists leaving at least
three people injured.
Shahin Ahmed Khan claimed that police arrested their two activists from the spot but they brought out their procession at Dhaniya,
Dhalpur, Dayaganj and Rayerbagh areas.
In Hazaribagh, a group of Chhatra Shibir activists led by its publication secretary Dr. Abdul Malek as police rushed to the scene
and chased them they instantly fled the scene.
In Old Dhaka, a group of Chhatra Shibir activists led by Jagannath university unit secretary Khaled Mahmud brought out a procession at
around 9:00am and marched towards Sutrapur police station as police intercepted them they locked clash with police leaving two people
injured.
Jagannath university unit secretary Khaled Mahmud claimed two of their activists sustained bullet injuries and arrested one from the spot.
Meanwhile, a team of Mirpur police station conducted a drive at a residence of Kallayanpur area in the city on Sunday morning and seized
huge quantities of gun powder, huge live bombs and bomb making materials, T-shirt of Chhatra Shibir and a passport of the other
world.
Police arrested Khalid Hossain, 30 and his brother Sazid Hossain, 28 in connection with the incident. Police also detained another four
people in this connection for interrogation.
Additional deputy commissioner of Mirpur Zone Jashim Uddin told The Independent, “Based on the intelligence information police conducted
the drive at Road no-2, House no-27 at around 10:00am and seized six kilograms gunpowder and 60 kilograms bomb making materials from the scene.”
The number of vehicles was fewer in the city streets while rickshaws and auto-rickshaws dominated the streets in the morning.
However, huge law enforcers, including members of BGB and RAB, were seen guarding the city streets to avoid any untoward incident.
Outside the capital, stray incidents marked in different districts including Rajshahi, Chuadanga, leaving over 30 people injured.
Our Correspondent from Bogra reports, pickets torched three trucks in Sabgram and Khandar areas in the town around 8:30am during the daylong hartal.
Witnesses said a group of masked miscreants allegedly Jammat-Shibir men stabbed a freedom fighter and also a retired military official
Hazral Ali, 70, at Sajahanpur upazila at around 11am.
Later he was admitted into the combined military hospital (CMH) in the district.
Besides, several crude bombs were exploded in the town area including Satmatha, heart point in the town yesterday morning and evening in the previous day.
In Rajshahi, violence erupted at the Binodpur are in the city as a clash between police and picketers, leaving at least 10 people
injured.
In Chuadanga, Jamaat-Shibir men put up blockade at Boalmari on Chuadanga-Kushtia road early Sunday, disrupting traffic movement
between Chuadanga and Kushtia districts for three hours.
Jamaat acting ameer Maqbul Ahmad on Thursday announced the shutdown programme in a statement after the execution of Quader Mollah on Thursday night.
In Sirajganj, three policemen were injured when their vehicle came under crude bomb attack by the Jamaat-Shibir activists at Khokshabari
area under the sadar upazila at around 11am. The picketers in retaliation fired tear shell canisters and rubber bullets to disperse them.
In Feni, miscreants set fire to the district Jamaat-e-Islami office in the early hour, leaving several shops burnt.
While in Jhalakathi, miscreants set fire to the Rajapur Upazila Awami League office in the early hours of Sunday. Police detained two BNP
activists in connection with the incident.
In Satkhira, law enforces detained at least 16 Jamaat-Shibir activists in suspicion of conducting violent activities including killing from
different areas.
In Faridpur, police detained at least two shibir activists for carrying petrol bombs with them in the town. The arrestees were Jamal, 22, and Rabikul, 20.
In Rajshahi, at least 25 peoples were injured following a clash erupted at 7:15am between the supporters of Jamaat-Shibir and police
at Binodpur area.
Police fired tear shell canisters and rubber bullets to bring the situation under control.
In Narsingdi, two people received burn injury when miscreants had torched a bus loaded with labours at Gorashal area.
In Narayangong, shibir activists hurled two petrol bombs in Chashara police camp when Shibir activists brought out a procession at the area
this morning.
Six shibir activists were detained after a clash between hartal supporters and police held at Ukil para in early hours today.
In Rangpur, miscreants set fire to the office of the Sundarban Courier Service located on the second floor of the Rangpur Press Club at
around 2:30pm, our correspondent reports. Fire fighters rushed to spot and doused the fire.
