DHAKA NEWS
Stray incidents of explosions, vandalism and detention of opposition activists marked the first day of a second spell of countrywide dawn-to-dusk shutdown.
The BNP-led 18-party alliance enforced the hartal to protest what it said government’s ‘failure to return’ missing BNP leader M Ilias Ali by the opposition set deadline that expired on Saturday.
Twenty-one cocktails went off in six parts of the capital during the first day of the back-to-back hartal from Sunday to Monday.
The incidents of detention and vandalism were also reported from different points of the city.
Five cocktails exploded at Tolarbagh in Mirpur around 7:30am while two in front of BNP’s central office at Nayapaltan around 6:30am while two more at Nazirabazar area in Old Dhaka around 8:30 in the morning, reports our correspondents covering the hartal.
UNB adds: Police and witnesses said pro-hartal activists blasted five cocktails at Mohakhali crossing, five at Mugda-Bishwa Road and one at Malibagh. All the cocktails exploded between 8:00am and 9:00am.
Police detained BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and another around 6:30am, but they were released after a while.
The law enforce also picked up Labour Party President Mustafizur Rahman Iran from in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan office when he went there to express his solidarity with the hartal.
Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activists of Titumir College unit vandalised several vehicles including an ambulance in the capital's Mohakhali area around 8:20am.
Pickets also stoned and damaged five to six trucks at Jatrabari at 7:30am and several passenger buses at Shaheenbagh in Tejgaon.
Police also barred the pro-hartal activists whenever they tried to bring out processing in different parts of the city including Mirpur Road and Dhanmondi.
The law enforcers also resisted a procession of around 10 opposition lawmakers when they tried to move towards Manik Mia Avenue from South Plaza of the Parliament complex around 9:30am. Later, they held a rally at the South Plaza.
Earlier, they brought out a procession from the South Plaza.
Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, Syeda Asifa Ashrafi Papia and barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon were among the lawmakers.
Like the recent hartal days, the BNP central office remains cordoned off since the morning.
Law enforcers have not been allowing the party leaders and activists to bring out any processions or hold rallies.
Huge contingents of law enforcers are seen patrolling the main thoroughfare and key points of the capital to avert any untoward incidents.
The key city streets which usually remain bustling during office hours wears an empty look as most passenger buses and private cars stay off roads fearing vandalism.
Very few CNG run three wheelers were seen to ply the city streets during the morning hours.
Rickshaws were found dominating the major thoroughfares of the city like other hartal days.
At least 15 buses left the city’s Sayedabad Bus Terminal for Comilla and Narsingdi in the morning. But there is no report of any long-route bus left the other terminals in the capital.
All educational institutions, business establishments, most shops and shopping malls besides the major thoroughfares remained closed. However, the government offices remain opened.
Meanwhile, the government on the eve of hartal postponed Sunday's and Monday's Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations due to the hartal.
RAJSHAHI
A chase and counter-chase took place between pro-hartal activists and law enforcers when police tried to resist a procession brought out in the city in support of the hartal.
At least 10 people were injured in the chase and counter-chase, President of BNP Rajshahi district unit Nadim Mostafa claimed.
Humayun Kabir, an assistant commissioner in Rajshahi, however denied any casualty.
NARAYANGANJ
At least five pro-hartal activists including Narayanganj district BNP president Taimur Alam, were injured at DIT commercial area in the town when police charged batons on them to foil an opposition gathering.
Ignoring police obstruction, the BNP activists tried to hold a rally in front of their party office in Narayanganj.
Earlier around 7:00am, the party leaders and activists brought out a procession there.
Police also arrested two persons including a Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal leader from the spot.
NATORE
The pro-hartal activists torched a passenger bus in front of the Chakrampur Cinema Hall of the district headquarters during the hartal hours.
Police foiled another attempt of pickets while they were trying to obstruct traffic movement setting fire to tyres in Barogachha area of the Natore town.
BACKGROUND
Former lawmaker and BNP Organising Secretary (Sylhet Division) M Ilias Ali along with his driver remain missing since the night of April 17.
The main opposition BNP claimed that government agencies have picked them up to make them disappear.
Earlier, the main opposition BNP observed countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal from April 22 to 24 protesting the disappearance of Ilias.
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