The daylong hartal called by the BNP-led 18-party alliance passed off with stray incidents of violence in the capital and elsewhere in the country on Sunday.
At least 15 persons were injured in sporadic clashes between law enforcers and pro-hartal activists. The police arrested about 40 people for picketing, while several vehicles were vandalised in different parts of the country by hartal supporters.
The 18-party opposition alliance called the hartal in protest against the “ban” on rallies and processions. It also demanded immediate restoration of the caretaker government system and release of its arrested leaders and activists.
Stray incidents of violence in the city’s Panthapath, Tejgaon, Mohammadpur, Malibagh, Moghbazar, Mahakhali, Rampura and Shahbagh areas marked the shutdown.
Some pro-hartal activists vandalised several vehicles in different parts of the city.
According to witnesses, half-a-dozen crude bombs were exploded in Adabar of Mohammadpur, Tejgaon, Shahbagh and Uttara areas. Pro-hartal elements hurled brickbats at the police during the hartal.
At least seven crude bombs exploded in the Wireless Gate area in the city. Sources said a group of four to five hartal supporters had exploded the bombs at around 10:20 am. They fled the scene before the police arrived.
Police detained two picketers with four crude bombs in Farmgate area in the morning.
Some pro-hartal activists also exploded two crude bombs at the Tejgaon intersection at about6:10 am. Another group of hartal supporters brought out a procession in Shahjadpur at around6:40 am.
Besides, hartal supporters exploded three crude bombs near Aziz Supermarket in Shahbagh in the morning.
Activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal brought out a procession at Mirpur Mazar Road. They vandalised a car and brought out another procession at Segunbagicha around 7 am.
Picketers torched a covered van near a restaurant at Khilgaon Tatola at about 8 am.
A group of hartal supporters vandalised a CNG auto-rickshaw and exploded several crude bombs at Darus Salam Road in the city.
Some picketers brought out a procession in Bangsal area in the morning. They blasted two crude bombs, sensing the presence of law enforcement personnel.
Jubo Dal cadres vandalised an auto rickshaw with the banner of a private TV channel in Wari area.
Members of the Opposition alliance brought out a brisk procession at Rampura area in the morning and torched a covered van. They fled the area when police rushed to the spot.
Hartal supporters exploded two crude bombs near the gate of Mohammadpur College and another in Gabtoli area. Police dispersed some pro-hartal activists after they brought out a procession in Adabar area around 8 am. The activists exploded seven crude bombs in the area.
Several processions were brought out in support of the shutdown in Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Tejgaon, Moghbazar and Jatrabari areas of the capital.
Additional security personnel, comprising police and Rapid Action Battalion, were deployed at every strategic point and intersection of the capital to avert untoward incidents.
Hartal supporters did not gather in front of the BNP central office in Nayapaltan.
Shamsuzzaman Dudu, adviser of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, arranged a press meet at the BNP office in the morning. He demanded restoration of the caretaker government system to ensure a free, fair and credible
election.
BNP lawmakers brought out a procession in Sangsad Bhaban area in support of the hartal and held a rally there. The lawmakers said they would return to Parliament in the June budget session to place their demand about restoring the caretaker government provision to the country’s charter.
Educational institutions were closed. Attendance was thin in government and non-government offices.
-With The Independent input
