Districts see arson, clashes as hartal progresses

Setting fire on tree logs, pro-hartal activists block a local road at Nitaiganj in Narayanganj city on Wednesday during the 36-hour shutdown enforced by BNP-led 18-party alliance. Photo: TV grab

The hartal supporters torched an Awami League office and clashed with police in different districts across the country on Wednesday, the second day of a 36-hour hartal (shutdown).

The BNP-led 18-party combine activists enforced the hartal since 6:00am Tuesday demanding release of their top leaders including BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Miscreants torched the AL office in Bagerhat and set fire to railway tracks in Chandpur.

A truck was set on fire and at least five vehicles were vandalised in Narayanganj since morning.

Pro-hartal activists blasted at least 16 cocktails in Sylhet and Bogra.

NARAYANGANJ

At least five people were injured as activists of Bangladesh Chhatra Dal clashed with police in Barafkal area of the city.

Police said JCD men set fire to a truck and vandalised five vehicles from a procession in Barafkal area around 7:00am.

The clash ensued when police chased the processionists who were throwing brick chips on them, leaving five people injured.

Police had to fire two gunshots to disperse the activists.

Police also chased and dispersed a procession of Jubo Dal in Paikpara arera around 6:00am.

The law enforcers charged batons and opened fire on JCD procession at Barafkal without any provocation, Shahed Ahmed, joint convener of JCD city unit, claimed.

CHANDPUR

Pickets set fire to railway tracks in Boro Station area of Chandpur-Laksam route around 8:30am, Bangla daily Prothom Alo reports.

On information, Government Railway Police rushed to the spot and put out the blaze.

The hartal supporters also blockaded Chandpur-Comilla and Matlab-Pennai roads around 7:00am, by felling logs at different points.

Police removed the logs and freed the Chandpur-Comilla road around 7:30am.

The law enforcers picked up six activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP from different parts of the district for attempting to carry out subversive activities.

SYLHET

Pro-hartal activists blasted nine homemade bombs in Shibganj and Kadamtali areas and on Mirabazar-Pathantola road in the city.

BAGERHAT

Miscreants torched the office of AL ward No.4 unit in Sharei area of Bagerhat pourasava around 12:45pm Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the 18-party activists brought out a procession in support of their hartal on Bagerhat-Khulna road in Natun Court area in the morning.

BOGRA

JCD activists exploded seven cocktails from a procession near at Charmatha intersection in the town around 8:00am.

Islami Chhatra Shibir activists brought out another procession on Dohail Road in the city around 7:00am.

RAJSHAHI

Pickets vandalised a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in front of Rajshahi Nagar Bhaban around 8:00am. They also detached one of its wheels and set fire to it.

KHULNA

Police detained Mezbauddin Mizu, general secretary of BNP ward 29, and two JCD men from a procession brought out near circuit house in the city around 8:30pm.

They also nabbed a Shibir activist from Motiakhali area in the city when Shibir men brought out a procession and vandalised two battery-run easy bikes around 8:00am, said Shahabuddin Ahmed, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kotwali Police Station.

Meanwhile, unidentified miscreants hurled cocktails targeting an anti-hartal procession of AL-led 14-party alliance at Lower Jessore Road in the city.

No injuries were reported, said the OC said.

COMILLA

Two people were injured in a clash between AL and BNP activists at Kandirpar in the city.

The clash ensued when BNP brought out a procession from Laksham road and became face to face of AL activists, who took position at Kandirpar.

A motorcycle was torched while two others were vandalised during the clash.

Police fired several shots in the air to disperse the unruly activists. Several homemade bombs were also blasted during the clash.