11 arrests, strong police watch mark hartal in Ctg

Police held back the BNP activists poised to enforce hartal activities in front of the party's unit office at Kazir Dewry in Chittagong city yesterday.
The law enforcers also arrested 11 supporters of the dawn-to-desk hartal at different places across the port city.
Awami League men, on the other hand, occupied the city streets and arranged rallies at around 30 spots along with processions.
The streets were seen having no public transports, except some rickshaws and motorbikes, in the streets and the shops remained closed till the filing of report at 5:00pm. Movement of trains and planes was normal, but no inter-districts buses and trucks plied.
Loading and unloading of goods went on as usual at different jetties of Chittagong Port, but no goods could be delivered due to lack of trucks.
BNP activists for several times tried in vain to bring out processions from their office at Nasiman Bhaban and different areas. Due to police cordon all day along, they were forced to hold rally on the footpath in front of the party office.
Seven BNP activists were arrested at Kazir Dewry and Almas Cinema Hall and two at Bahodderhat intersection, as they tried to bring out procession. Two others were arrested at Baluchara for damaging an old jeep.
Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, president of BNP Chittagong city unit, at the rally alleged that the government was trying to mute the opposition party with police and goons, but it would not work always. He claimed the hartal was observed successfully in cooperation of the city dwellers.
BNP lawmaker Jarful Islam, former whip Wahidul Alam, City Unit General Secretary Dr Shahadat Hossain, and Senior Vice President Dastagir Chowdhury spoke at the rally among others.
AL city unit held a rally at Andarkilla Moor where AL President ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, GS Kazu Inamul Hoque Danu, leaders AJM Nasir Uddin, Advocate Iftekher Saimul, Safar Ali, and MA Naser spoke.
After the rally, a huge procession led by Mohiuddin was brought out. The procession marched through different city streets to AL city unit office at Darul Fazal Market. Another rally was also held at the same place later.
AL faction loyal to lawmaker Nurul Islam arranged a three-hour long rally in New Market area beginning at 11:00am.
AL rallies were also held at Lalkhan Bazaar, Bahodderhat, Fakir Hat, Kala Mia Bazar, Boropool, Halishahar, and Kotwali.
The ruling party activists on some 500 rickshaws brought out a procession from Darul Fazal market around 12:00pm. BCL activists on around 50 motorbikes led the rickshaw procession.
No unwanted situation could take place for the presence of police.