Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is going to enforce a daylong countrywide hartal on Tuesday protesting the arrest of its leader AKM Yusuf on charges of crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War in 1971.In a statement, Jamaat acting secretary general Rafiqul Islam Khan called the hartal on Sunday.
Rafiqul, in another statement on Monday, urged all to make the shutdown programme a success.
Jamaat nayeb-e-ameer AKM Yusuf was arrested from his Dhanmondi residence at 12.45 pm, after the International Crimes Tribunal-1 issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of war crimes.Hours after his arrest, the tribunal sent Yusuf, founder of notorious Razakar outfit, to Dhaka Central Jail.
Meanwhile, leaders and activists of Jamaat and Islami and Chattra Shibir brought out processions at different parts of the city, including Farmgate, Nabisco Intersection, Moghbazar and Bijoyngar, in support of the shutdown programme.
DMP sources said some 10,000 additional police and Rab members will be put on high alert in the city to avert any unpleasant incident in the capital during Tuesday’s hartal.
Deputy Commissioner (DB-PR) Masudur Rahman said an adequate number of police will be deployed in the city to ensure smooth movement of the city dwellers during the hartal hours.
A police officer, wishing anonymity, told UNB on Monday night that the law enforcers have been asked to deal with the Jamaat-Shibir men with a strong hand provided they take to the streets during the hartal hours.
Tuesday’s hartal follows another nationwide shutdown enforced on Sunday by Jamaat protesting the death sentence to its leader M Kamaruzzaman that evoked little response. (Source: UNB)
