Dhaka sees lax hartal

A huge number of vehicles are seen plying the street at Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue of Dhaka during hartal enforced by Jamaat-e-Islami Wednesday morning. Photo: Akanda Muhammad Jahid

Dhaka city dwellers came out in streets and performed their daily duties as the countrywide hartal called by Jamaat-e-Islami has left a little impact on the daily life.

No unexpected incident was reported from any part of Dhaka till filing this report around 1:30pm.

Jamaat enforced the 48-hour hartal from 6:00am today protesting the death sentences awarded to Jamaat leaders Mir Quasem Ali and Muhammad Kamaruzzaman for their crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War.

A large number of businesses, offices and roadside shops are seen open while a huge number of motorised vehicles are plying the Dhaka streets, the first day of the 48-hour hartal.

Apart from rickshaws dominating the roads, a significant number of minibuses and CNG-run auto-rickshaws are seen all through the day. Some areas have even seen traffic congestion with a large number of private cars hitting the roads.

Long-route buses were, however, off the roads, but movement of trains, launches and planes remained quite normal.

Earlier on October 29, Jamaat called a fresh 72-hartal for last Thursday, Sunday and Monday after International Crimes Tribunal-1 handed down death penalty to Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami for his crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.