A ward level leader of the Islami Chhatra Shibir was killed in a clash between police and pro-hartal activists on Wednesday, the second day of the 48-hour nationwide hartal called by the Jamaat-e-Islami. According to eyewitnesses, Khalilur Rahman was killed in police firing. Police, however, said that Rahman was crushed under the wheels of a speeding vehicle when he tried to flee the area.
Doctors at Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital could not pinpoint the exact reason for Rahman’s death.
Dr Abdur Rashid, emergency unit physician of the hospital, said the Shibir activist had died before he was brought to the hospital around 7:15 am. “There were signs of head injury. The body bore injury marks from rubber bullets,” he added.
The doctor, however, claimed that the head injury was caused by a speeding vehicle.
Nearly 200 persons, including 15 policemen and a journalist, were injured in sporadic clashes between hartal supporters and police across the country on Wednesday.
Witnesses said a group of Shibir activists had brought out a procession in front of Dhania AK High School in the morning. They exploded several crude bombs and vandalised some vehicles in the area. When the unruly activists tried to torch vehicles, the police charged at them with batons and fired several rubber bullets to disperse them.
A chase and counter-chase followed and Khalilur Rahman was found injured.
Assistant commissioner (Demra Zone) Minhazul Islam told reporters that some pro-hartal activists had brought out a flash procession around 6.45 am near Dania AK High School. “We found a youth lying on the street and took him to Mitford Hospital,” he added.
Islam said the Shibir activist might have been hit by a vehicle, as many were trying to rush out of the area to evade the clashes.
Many people, including Banglavision’s cameraperson Zahurul Haq, were hit by rubber bullets fired by police.
At 8:00 am, some Jamaat-Shibir activists brought out a procession and exploded three crude bombs near Adabor Police Station. They tried to set a truck on fire, but soon fled the spot after being chased by police.
At the Moghbazar rail crossing, hartal supporters tried to torch the railway tracks at 7.30 am. They, however, were dispersed by law enforcers.
At 6:40 am, Jamaat-Shibir activists exploded crude bombs at Sayedabad Janapod crossing, creating panic among local residents. On receiving information, police rushed to the spot and dispersed the picketers.
Abador Police Station officer-in-charge Shamimur Rashid said police had detained a youth for indulging in subversive activities around 8 am.
There have been reports of processions in support of the shutdown from various parts of the capital.
In Savar, law enforcers detained two Islami Chhatra Shibir activists — Shakil Hossain (24) and Ibrahim Khali (21) — and seized homemade bombs from their possession.
Savar Model Police Station sub-inspector Tapas Kumar said the two Shibir activists had damaged three vehicles on the Dhaka-Aricha highway around 11:30 am on Wednesday.“We found two homemade bombs on them,” he added.
The activists were arrested from the Savar Bazar Bus Stand.
Police detained Jamaat’s Aminbazar union member Alauddin Master (56) for planning subversive actions.
In Laxipur, at least 100 people, including 10 policemen, were injured after a sporadic clash between Jamaat-Shibir activists and police in Roypur upazila of the district on Wednesday. Upazila Shibir (North) president Ibrahim Hossain, Nasir Hossain Babu, Mahbub and Mahfuj received bullet injuries.
Nasir and Mahfuj were reported to be critically injured. They were rushed to Dhaka, while another injured was admitted to Raypur Upazila Health Complex.
In Comilla, at least 15 people, including two policemen, were injured, when Jamaat-e-Islami activists clashed with the police and Awami League activists. The clashe took place at Faizganj on Wednesday morning.
Sadar police officer-in-charge Ainul Haq said the activists had hurled stones at the police, injuring two constables.
The hartal supporters tried to move towards Perul area, but were obstructed by local Awami League activists. Police moved in and took control of the situation after firing several rounds of rubber bullets.
In Sylhet, some hartal supporters damaged a vehicle, blocked roads and brought out processions in support of the general strike.
-With The Independent input
