Boy killed in firing

Twelve-year-old Ridoy's body lies on a rickshaw van. He was killed during a running battle between law enforcers and opposition activists at Bahuli Bazar in Sirajganj yesterday. Photo: Focus Bangla/Star

A 12-year-old boy was killed by stray bullets and 10 others were injured yesterday, as Jamaat-Shibir men fought with law enforcers in Sirajganj during Jamaat's nationwide hartal that coincided with the opposition's blockade across the country.
Along with the activists of the BNP-led 18-party alliance, Jamaat-e-Islami men resorted to vandalism and arson in different parts of the country, leaving more than 67 people injured.
Meanwhile, the alliance extended its 72-hour blockade, which started at 6:00am on Saturday, till 6:00am on Friday, causing further sufferings to people.
BNP Spokesperson Salahuddin Ahmed yesterday afternoon announced the extension of blockade via a video message from an unknown location.
Soon after yesterday's shutdown, the Jamaat-e-Islami called another nationwide dawn-to-dusk hartal for today to protest the death warrant for its leader Abdul Quader Mollah, condemned to death for crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.

Pickets, some apparently teenagers, make fire on the street and pelt law enforcers with brick chunks and crude bombs in Bakalia area of Chittagong. Inset, a law enforcer running away after a homemade bomb went off close to him. Photo: Star

The fresh programmes will eat up the whole week and deal further blow to the already struggling business, education and other sectors. The ongoing agitation has seriously disrupted final examinations in schools with the authorities finding it difficult to reschedule the tests.
Since November 26, people had a respite of only two days from countrywide blockade by the opposition that has been pressing for suspension of the election schedule, installation of a non-party polls-time government and the release of its leaders.
There could be more violence next week, as the opposition plans to go for tougher agitation programmes like non-cooperation movement to resist the January 5 election.
In the capital, activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir, student wing of Jamaat, clashed with police near Sayedabad bus terminal around 7:00am. As police chased them, they exploded crude bombs and tried to vandalise vehicles.

Local BNP leader Kamrul Islam, of Kansat in Chapainawabganj lying on a stretcher at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital after he was stabbed by criminals yesterday in his locality. The criminals also cut tendons of his legs. Photo: Focus Bangla/Star

A Shibir activist, Asraful Islam, suffered bullet wounds after police opened fire on the unruly Shibir men.
In a separate incident, miscreants set alight a bus at Sobhanbagh around 6:30pm.
Police detained a woman for throwing a crude bomb at law enforcers in front of the Westin Hotel in Gulshan.
In Sirajganj, Sumon Hossain, 12, son of Anwar Hossain of sadar upazila, was killed by stray bullets during a clash between Jamaat-Shibir men and law enforcers at Bahulibazar. He was returning home from a salon.
Ten people were injured in the clash that erupted when police prevented a group of Jamaat-Shibir men from engaging in vandalism at Bahulibazar around 11:30am.
The Jamaat-Shibir activists threw crude bombs and fired at law enforcers, forcing the cops to retaliate, said Habibul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sirajganj Sadar Police Station.
The OC, however, couldn't say how Sumon was hit by bullets that left him dead on the spot.
In the meantime, a trucker and his helper suffered burns as Jamaat-Shibir activists set fire to the vehicle in Debidwar upazila of Comilla.
With 50 percent burns on his body, Mujibur Rahman, 30, the truck helper, was whisked off to Comilla Medical College and Hospital with, said police.
In Chapainawabganj, miscreants cut tendons of both legs of a local BNP leader at Kansat Bazar around 11:30am.
Locals took Kamrul Islam, 38, of Laghata village, secretary of ward-3 BNP unit of Dhainagar union, to Shibganj health complex. He was later shifted to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital.
In Kushtia, Shibir activists beat up three Ansar personnel with iron rods and hockey sticks, as the three obstructed them from removing clips of railway sleepers near Jibonnagar bazar on Chuadanga-Khulna railroad around 11:30am, said police.
In another incident, blockaders vandalised 22 fertiliser-laden trucks at Sheikh Para Bazar in Jhenidah around 7:30pm.
In Pirojpur, at least 30 people, including activists of the ruling and the opposition parties, were injured in a clash in Mathbaira area.
Besides, 16 people were injured as BNP men clashed with police in Gazipur. Six of the wounded were hit by bullets.
At least 10 people, including two policemen, were hurt in clashes between opposition activists and law enforcers in Rajshahi city.
A clash between Jubo Dal men and police left 10 people injured at Galachipa in Narayanganj.
In Sylhet, miscreants hurled two petrol bombs at the residence of Abdus Zahir Chowdhury Sufian, president of district AL unit and also district council administrator, at Baghbari in the town around 7:45pm.
There was no report of any casualty.
Hartal supporters exploded crude bombs in front of upazila election offices at Ghior, Shivalaya, Saturia and sadar upazila in Manikganj.
There have been reports of vandalism and explosions of crude bombs in Chittagong, Bogra, Satkhira, Narail and Bagerhat.