The Rajshani unit of the BNP-led alliance on Friday called a 36-hour hartal in eight districts of Rajshahi division from Sunday protesting the ‘killing of a Jatiayatabadi Chhatra Dal leader by Rab men’ in Chapainawabganj.
The decision to enforce the shutdown came at an emergency meeting of the combine held in the city in the evening.
Confirming the shutdown programme, Rajshahi City Corporation mayor Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul, also a member of BNP central executive committee, said the hartal will begin at 6am on Sunday and end at 6pm on Monday.Earlier in the day, a youngman – termed as an alleged criminal – who was arrested on charge of carrying out ‘subversive’ activities during the ongoing blockade, was killed in a ‘gunfight’ with Rapid Action Battalion(Rab) members at Kansat in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj in the early hours.
The deceased was identified as Matiur Rahman, 22. Meanwhile, local unit of 20-party alliance said that Matiur was the vice-president of Shyampur union unit of JCD.
Commanding officer of Kansat Rab-5 camp, Major Kamruzzaman Pavel, said the Rab arrested three people, including Matiur Rahman, on charge of picketing, torching vehicles and exploding crude bombs during the 20-party-enforced blockade on Thursday afternoon.
After interrogation, the Rab members conducted a drive in Kansat area along with Matiur to recover arms around 3:30 am, he said.
When the Rab team reached the area, the accomplices of Matiur numbering 40-50 allegedly hurled crude bombs targeting the Rab vehicle and opened fire at the law enforcers, prompting the Rab to retaliate, triggering a gunfight.
Matiur Rahman was caught in the line of fire and died on the spot while the others managed to flee the scene, Kamruzzaman said.
In protest against the killing, the 20-party alliance called a 36-hour hartal in Chapainawabganj from 6am on Sunday to 6 pm on Monday. – UNB
