1 killed as human hauler chased by pickets overturns
A man was killed and scores were injured as stray incidents of violence marked the first day of the 48-hour general strike the Jamaat-e-Islami began enforcing on Tuesday morning.
The injured included 10 police constables and the officer-in-charge of the Gangni police in Meherpur.
Jamaat, which is enforcing the general strike in protest at a High Court verdict of August 1 that declared illegal the party’s registration with the Election Commission, on August 6 deferred the strike, originally planned to begin on Monday, by 24 hours.
A passenger died in Cox’s Bazar after a human hauler overturned at Kharulia in Cox’s Bazar when pickets chased it on the Chittagong–Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday night.
The Cox’s Bazar police officer-in-charge, Jasimuddin, said that they were yet
to establish the identity of the deceased. He said that Jamaat pickets had suddenly started vandalising vehicles at Kharulia about 8:00pm and the human hauler overturned as it tried to run away to avoid being attacked.
The victim died on the spot and four of the passengers who were injured were admitted to Cox’s Bazar General Hospital.
The home ministry said that 10 policemen, including the Gangni police officer-in-charge, Masudul Alam, had become injured as Jamaat activists attacked them at Garadoba of Gangni in Meherpur.
The ministry said that another constable, Nur Uddin, had been severely wounded at Silonia of Daganbhuiyan in Feni as Jamaat activists hurled a crude bomb at him.
Jamaat said that the police had arrested more than 200 of their leaders and activists and more than 100 of their activists had been injured in police attacks.
The party’s acting secretary general Rafiqul Islam Khan, said that ruling party goods had attacked houses of eight party activists, including its Lakshmipur unit secretary Emran Hossain and looted valuables.
Reports from Meherpur said that at least 50 people, including 10 policemen, had been injured as Jamaat pickets clashed with the police at Garadoba.
The superintendent of police in Meherpur, Mofazzel Hossain, that said the clash had broken out when the police tried to disperse a procession Jamaat and Islami Chhatra Shibir activists had brought out.
Jamaat and Shibir activists pelted the police with stones and the lawmen fired 47 blank shots and 13 teargas shells.
The Gangni police officer-in-charge was among the injured. The police arrested four people, including two suspected Shibir activists, at the spot.
Clashes also broke out between pickets and the police at Nalka Kutir Char in Sirajganj, to the west of the Jamuna Bridge, in which 19 Jamaat activists and a police constable became severely injured, the New Age correspondent in Sirajganj said. The police fired at least 30 rounds of rubber bullets to contain the situation.
Additional superintendent of police in Sirajganj Md Mokter Hossain said the pickets had suddenly tried to vandalise some vehicles and attacked the police with stones and lethal weapons when they tried to disperse the pickets.
The critically injured police constable Selim was admitted to Sirajganj General Hospital.
Jammat and Shibir pickets also vandalised some vehicles at Kashem Mor on the Sayedabad–Kadda Nalka Road, to the west of the Jamuna Bridge.
Activists of Jamaat and Shibir darted out on roads in places to attack the police in the capital Dhaka amid heightened security where life was normal.
Pickets could hardly be noticed in most city areas as additional security personnel, composed of the police and Rapid Action Battalion personnel, have been deployed at all the key points and road crossings to head off any untoward incidents.
Thirty or so Jamaat and Shibir activists at Kalynpur brought out a procession about 7:00am, exploded three crude bombs and started a fire on the road by pouring petrol.
The police dispersed them by firing two blank shots, Darussalam police subinspector Ataur Rahman told New Age.
Shibir activists tried to bring out procession at Armanitola in Old Town of Dhaka about 8:00am. They also damaged some vehicles and immediately left the place as the police chased them.
The police arrested two pickets, Gulam Azam and Aktheruzzaman, at the spot and a mobile court sentenced each of them to six months in jail, the Bangshal police officer-in-charge, Abdul Quddus Fakir, said.
Pickets also brought out processions at Shahjadpur and on Green Road and immediately left the place after exploding crude bombs.
The presence of vehicles on the road was thin. Business establishments remained closed.
Buses kept off long-distance routes. Trains and launches ran as usual with fewer passengers.
The ruling Awami League and its front organisations and Shahbagh protesters also brought out processions against the strike.
The correspondent in Chittagong said that the police had arrested a teacher suspected of being involved in crude bomb explosion. Shibir activists exploded bombs at Halishahar and Kazir Dewri.
Md Nur, 58, a teacher of HM Degree College at Karnaphuli, was arrested at Halishahar.
The kotwali police office-in-charge (investigation), Nazim Uddin, said that Shibir activists, who were riding on a motorcycle, had exploded two crude bombs at Kazir Dewri.
Indoor activities at the Chittagong port remained normal but no vehicles laden with containers left the port.
The correspondent in Sylhet said that pickets had vandalised at least 10 vehicles and Jamaat and Shibir activists had brought out processions in places to block the roads but failed to stay there long.
Shibir activists tried to block roads by starting fire with petrol and kerosene but they hurried away as the law enforcers approached.
The police also detained thee Shibir activists from Bishwanath, two from Balaganj and two from Kanaighat.
The correspondent in Lalmonirhat said that at least 15 people had become injured in a clash between Jamaat and Awami League activists at Bawra Bazar of Patgram in the district on the eve of the strike on Monday.
Three houses and two shops were vandalised during the clash and the injured were sent to Patgram health complex, Lalmonirhat General Hospital and Rangpur Medical College Hospital.
Reports from Bogra said that Jamaat pickets had vandalised about 10 vehicles in places in the town and exploded a few crude bombs.
The correspondent in Jhenaidah said that Jamaat and Shibir activists had blocked the Kaliganj–Jibannagar Road at Lautala and burnt tyres. Four Jamaat activists were arrested at Raghunathpur of Harinakunda.
In Lakshmipur, Jamaat and Shibir activists exploded 10 crude bombs and brought out processions in places in support of the strike.
Jamaat activists blocked the Lakshmipur–Ramgati Road about 7:00am with logs and exploded 10 crude bombs. Pickets brought out processions at Kazipara and Satar Para in Ramganj but the police dispersed them.
Reports from Barisal said that the first day of the strike was peaceful. River vessels operated as usual. Offices functioned with front doors closed.
The police arrested 17 Jamaat and Shibir activists at places in Pirojpur town on Monday night.
The correspondent in Rangpur said that people who reached there to celebrate Eid with families failed to get back to work as intercity buses could not run because of the strike.
The correspondent in Khulna said that Jamaat and Shibir activists had brought out processions on Rupsa Strand Road and at Baniakhamar Goalkhali but the police dispersed them.
The police on Monday evening arrested five Shibir activists at Sonadanga.
-With New Age input
