Hartal (Shutdown) called by Jamaat-e-Islami in Sylhet Division

BANGLADESH NEWS

A Shibir man was killed and 15 including three policemen were injured as law enforcers after being attacked by Jamaat-Shibir men opened fire on them in Bishwanath upazila of Sylhet during a daylong shutdown there Wednesday morning.

The Jamaat-e-Islami unit of Sylhet city enforced the daylong shutdown (hartal) in the division, covering Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts, demanding immediate release of advocate Eahsan Mahbub Jubair, ameer (president) of the party city unit.

The deceased is identified as Golam Rabbani, 25.

The incidents of minor clash, vandalism and picketing were also reported from Sobanighat, Pathantola and Shahi Eidgah areas of the city.

Law enforcers also rounded up four Jamaat-Shibir activists from Bishwanath upazila during the clash that erupted around 8:00am, reported our correspondent quoting Md Shakhawat Hossain, superintendent of police in Sylhet.

The clash ensued on College Road in Karikona area of Bishwanath upazila when nearly 200 activists of Jamaat and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, were picketing there, said the top police official of Sylhet.

Police resisted the Jamaat-Shibir men when they were trying to march towards the upazila Palli Bidyut office, he said.

Being resisted, the party men hurled brick chips leading to the clash that continued for nearly 30-minute.

During the clash, police fired 60 rounds from shotgun, four rounds from Chinese rifle. The law enforcers also lobbed 12 gas shells to disperse the party activists, he added.

They also detained four Jamaat-Shibir men from the spot.

The Jamaat-Shibir men vandalised seven vehicles including battery run auto-rickshaws on Airport Road around 7:30am.

In Sobanighat area, the Jamaat-Shibir men vandalised a microbus around 8:00am.

The law enforcers fired several blank shots and rubber bullets to disperse the marauding activists.

The pro-hartal activists brought out brisk processions in Pathantola and Shahi Eidgah areas around 7:45am.

The law enforcers also foiled their attempt to vandalise several vehicles in the areas.

Rapid Action Battalion arrested the Jamaat man on Sunday from a hotel in Uttara of the capital for his alleged involvement in conspiracy against the government.