Khoksa hartal passes off

A dawn-to-dusk hartal in Khoksa upazila of the district passed off peacefully yesterday.
Khoksa upazila BNP enforced the hartal to protest a lower court decision that rejected the bail petitions of 13 party leaders of Kushtia district unit.
Business establishments in the town remained closed since morning but vehicular movement was normal.
Pro-hartal activists brought out a procession in the town at around 10.00am chanting slogans in support of their demand.
The 13 leaders were arrested following a case filed on charge of assaulting police and obstructing them from performing duties.
Police filed the case against 500 BNP leaders and activists following a clash with the party men on December 10 last year.
The chief judicial magistrate's court of Kushtia on Monday sent the 13 district unit leaders to jail when they had surrendered before the court seeking permanent bail.