Separate hartals enforced by local units of the main opposition BNP in
Pabna, Bhola, Feni, Noakhali and Comilla districts ended amid some
stray incidents of violence today (Saturday). In Pabna, a daylong
hartal protesting the arrest of Shimul Biswas, special assistant of
the BNP chairperson, passed off amid sporadic violence. At least 30
people were injured in a clash between hartal supporters and police in
Abdul Hamid Sarak area in town at noon. Activists of Chhatra Dal
brought out separate processions in bus terminal and Muzahid Club
areas during the shutdown. Besides, the hartal supporters vandalised
20 vehicles in different palaces. Earlier, Detective Branch (DB) of
police picked up three BNP top leaders–Moudud Ahmed, MK Anwar and
Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah–from the city’s Karwan Bazar area soon
after they came out of Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel around 8:15pm.
Meanwhile, some Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League activists
vandalised and set fire to district BNP office at Dilalpur in the
town. In Bhola, a daylong hartal, called by local unit BNP
protesting the arrest of BNP standing committee members Barrister
Moudud Ahmed, MK Anwar and Rafiqul Islam Mia, was observed almost
peacefully on Friday. Hartal supporters brought out separate
processions in Gazipur Road, Ghuigarhat and Kheyaghat areas in the
morning. As police obstructed them a chase and counter-chase took
place between the hartal supporters and police. Pro-hartal activists
vandalised 3/4 auto-rickshaws at Kheyaghat. Police arrested two
people from the spot in this connection. In Feni, a daylong hartal
in Dagonbhuiyan upazila of the district protesting the arrest of Abdul
Awal Mintoo, an adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, was observed
without any major incidence of violence early Saturday. Pickets put
up barricade on the Feni-Noakhali Road by placing logs around 8:30
am.Besides, hartal supporters damaged 50 vehicles and exploded 30
crude bombs around 8:30 am. In Noakhali, a daylong hartal was
observed peacefully in Companyganj and Kabirhat upazilas on Saturday
protesting the arrest of BNP standing committee member Barrister
Moudud Ahmed. In Comilla, a daylong shutdown, called by local unit
BNP, was observed peacefully in Homna and Titas upazilas protesting
the detention of MK Anwar. Aslam Shikdar, officer-in-charge of Homna
Police Station, said the pro- hartal activists put up barricade at an
intersection in the upazila headquarters by burning tyres. When
police tried to disperse them, they hurled brick chips targeting
police, leaving a constable named Mozaffar Ahmed injured. Police
brought the situation under control by firing 25 rounds of bullet and
lobbying 10 teargas shells. – UNB
