Stray incidents of violence mark Jamaat-Shibir hartal

Islami Chhatra Shibir takes out a procession in Katakhali area of Rajshahi city, right, blocks Chapainawabganj-Rajshahi highway by burning tyres in Chapainawabganj during the half-day shutdown enforced by the student wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in the districts yesterday. Photo: STAR

The half-day hartals enforced by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) in Rajshahi, Natore, Chapainawabganj, and Laxmipur passed off amid stray incidents of violence yesterday.
Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat, enforced an eight-hour shutdown in Rajshahi, Natore and Chapainawabganj demanding release of Mostafizur Rahman, social welfare secretary of Shibir central committee and former president of its Rajshahi city unit, and Atiqur Rahman, central office secretary, report our correspondents.
The pro-hartal activists vandalised at least 11 vehicles in Natore and Chapainawabganj during hartal hours.
Our Noakhali correspondent reported that Jamaat-Shibir enforced hartal in Laxmipur, home district of Atiqur, demanding his immediate release. The pickets blasted several cocktails during a clash with policemen in the district town, leaving at least five people injured.
On the other hand, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the ruling Awami League, observed a hartal in Tangail until 2:00pm, protesting the killing of one of its leaders, according to our correspondent.
In Rajshahi city, the hartal supporters could not take to the street as huge contingents of law enforcers were deployed at all the key points.
Besides, police on Tuesday banned all kinds of gatherings and rallies in the city for 16 hours from 6:00am yesterday.
In Natore, the hartal supporters vandalised at least 10 vehicles in Lalpur, Baraigram and Singra upazilas in the morning.
In Chapainawabganj, the Shibir men staged demonstrations by burning tyres on road in different places of the district town in the morning.
Chase and counter-chase between law enforcers and Shibir activists took place at Shibtala in the town at around 10:00am when the Shibir men tried to bring out a procession in the area.
Pickets vandalised a truck in Swarupnagar area in the district town at around 11:15am. On Tuesday night, police picked up at least seven Jamaat-Shibir activists from Nachole, Gomastapur, Bholahat and Shibganj upazilas of the district.
In Laxmipur, Shibir activists clashed with police in the bus terminal area during hartal hours, leaving at least five people, including a cop, injured.
The clash ensued when police intercepted a procession brought out by Shibir in the area at around 7:00am. Jamaat's student wing enforced the shutdown demanding release of their central leader Atiqur, who was arrested from Dhanmondi area in the capital on Monday.
Sub-Inspector Shahadat Hossain of Laxmipur Sadar Police sustained injuries when Shibir men blasted cocktails and hurled brick chips at the law enforcers.
Police lobbed several tear gas shells to disperse the pickets. Shibir activists also set fire to tyres on different roads of the district.