Vandalism, detention mark hartal in 3 northern dists

Pro-hartal activists set fire to tyres during a daylong hartal in Natore Thursday morning. Photo: STAR

A daylong hartal (shutdown) called by Islami Chhatra Shibir demanding “release of two of its Rajshahi University (RU) unit leaders who were arrested in Dhaka” is progressing amid vandalism, detention and procession in three northern districts on Thursday.

The hartal was enforced in Rajshahi, Natore and Chapainawabganj from 6:00am demanding release of RU unit Shibir finance secretary Tazammul Ali and students’ movement secretary Azizur Rahman. They were arrested at Badda in the capital on Monday.

In Chapainawabganj, the activists of the Jamaat-e-Islami backed student organisation vandalised six trucks at Arambag in the town around 9:00am, said Bazlur Rashid, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sadar Police Station.

Pickets also hurled brick chips towards police as law enforcers dispersed them from Chapainawabganj-Sonamasjid Land Port highway at Arambag area around 9:30am, the OC said.

Additional forces of Rab, police and BGB have been deployed in the town to control the law and order, he added.

In Rajshahi, police picked up two Shibir men while they were taking preparation to bring out a procession in front of Rajshahi College around 8:30am.

Following information given by the duo, law enforcers also picked up six more Shibir activists raiding a student mess in the town.

In Natore, pro-hartal activists blockaded Dhaka-Natore highway by burning tyres in Chakrampur and brought out a procession there around 8:20am. Law enforcers dispersed them from the highway immediately after the procession.

COMILLA

An eight hours shutdown enforced by Comilla district unit of Shibir is progresses peacefully, reported a correspondent from Comilla.

Shibir enforced the strike from 6:00am protesting the death of Md Aziz, a Shibir activist of Feni Government College, who was beaten to death by some unidentified miscreants at Chouddagram upazila of Comilla on Monday night.