Hartal passes off peacefully in Chittagong

CHITTAGONG, Jan 27: The hartal, extended in the port city till 2 pm today by the opposition alliance here, passed off almost peacefully.

The alliance comprising BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and Jatiya Party had extended the hartal yesterday protesting what it called police action on its activists while they tried to enter the court premises during countrywide hartal. At least 25 people were injured in the clash between police and opposition activists.

However, during today's hartal here, no untoward incident was reported, police said.

Opposition activists also held rallies and processions in the city during the hartal.

Most of vehicles excepting a few rickshaws stayed off the roads.

No inter-district bus to and from the port plied till 2 pm.

Shops and markets also remained closed while offices were seen functioning with thin attendance, keeping shutters down.

Cargo handling inside port jetties was as usual though delivery of goods was hampered due to non-plying of trucks.

Truckloads of police were seen patrolling important points in the city during the hartal period.

Railway sources said train services to and from Chittagong was normal.