Violence peaks on hartal eve
Clashes erupted between police and Jamaat-Shibir activists in several places in the country on Monday, on the eve of a 48-hour hartal called by the outfit. The hartal was called in protest against a High Court verdict that declared the outfit’s registration with the Election Commission as illegal. Sources said violence broke out after Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, brought out processions to drum up support for their shutdown. Over 50 leaders and activists of Jamaat-Shibir were arrested from Rangpur, Sylhet and Chittagong on charges of violence, taking out “illegal processions” and obstructing police from discharging their duty.
In Dhaka, agitators clashed with law enforcers at Mirpur, Pallabi and Moghbazar. Police fired teargas shells and blank shots to disperse the activists. Five people were arrested from Pallabi, two from Khilgaon and one from Motijheel for indulging in violence.
Jamaat-Shibir men also exploded crude bombs in Gulshan, Azimpur, Dholaipar, Armanitola, Fakirerpool, Khilgaon, Jatrabari, Jurain and some other places in the city.
According to witnesses, the agitators had brought out brisk processions and fled as law enforcers rushed to the spot. The unruly activists also exploded crude bombs to create panic among commuters and local people.
In Mirpur, Jamaat-Shibir men exploded at least six crude bombs during a procession at Section-10 around 3.30 pm. Police had to fire at least 12 canisters of teargas to disperse the Jamaat-Shibir activists.
Around one hour later, Jamaat-Shibir men brought out another procession near Benarashi Palli near Pallabi around 4.30 pm. Police fired five blank rounds to disperse the agitators and detained five people.
Abdul Latif, offiver-in-charge of Pallabi Police Station, said they were forced to fire blank shots as some agitators tried to forcefully free the detainees.
Another procession was brought out in Moghbazar area, where around 20 to 30 Jamaat-Shibir men went on a rampage and exploded several crude bombs. They also staged a demonstration and lit bonfires on the road.
Mashiur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Ramna Police Station, said the agitators had fled before law enforcers reached the spot.
A Shibir activist was arrested during a procession near Fakirer Pool vegetable market in Motijheel around 1 pm.
Our Pabna correspondent adds that a policeman was injured as Shibir men hurled two homemade bombs at law enforcers on SS Road in Sirajganj town around 10.30 am.
Panjab Ali, a constable of Sirajganj Sadar Police Station, was wounded by bomb splinters. He was rushed to Sirajganj Police Lines Hospital.
Police detained two Shibir men – Azizur Rahman and Nazrul Islam – from the spot.
In Chittagong: Jamaat-Shibir men brought out brisk processions and fled the scenes before law enforcers rushed to the spot. They exploded crude bombs to create panic among commuters and locals.
As soon as the law enforcers reached, the spot the unruly activists started to vandalise vehicles and police fired teargas canisters and rubber bullets to disperse the protestors. A Shibir activist received bullet injuries during the clashes.
In Sylhet: Police arrested Dr Abdul Jalil, Nayeeb-e-Ameer of Jamaat -e-Islami of Balaganj upazila unit, from his own shop at Goaljur Bazar on Monday. He was arrested on charges of sabotage during the hartal.
In Rangpur, 22 Jamaat and Shibir leaders and activists were arrested from the Boldipukur point under Mithapukur upazila on Tuesday. Police sources said the activists were about to commit subversive activities.
Apart from an additional deployment of 12,500 members of police and RAB, at least 12 mobile courts and 16 platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have also been deployed to support the RAB and the police.
Sources at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said besides the regular deployment, around 10,000 additional forces would remain deployed in the capital for tomorrow’s shutdown.
Wing commander ATM Habibur Rahman, director of the legal and media Wing of RAB, said around 2,500 additional forces have been deployed in and around the capital and two mobile courts would aided by RAB would also remain vigilant during the hartal.
-With The Independent input
