MANIKGANJ: The people of Manikganj municipality will observe a daylong hartal on Wednesday protesting the police firing on them.

President Azharul Islam Arzu of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) district unit made the announcement of the hartal in district press club issuing a notification on Tuesday.

The shops remained closed in the city till filing the report at 3:00pm. A little number of vehicles was plying in the roads and additional police forces were also deployed in the area.

Earlier, police in the morning charged baton and opened blank fire on locals’ procession, brought out demanding non-stop gas supply in the district.

The rally led by Municipal Mayor Ramzan Ali tried to besiege Mankiganj office of Titas Gas and police opened blank fire to control the situation in the area around 11:00am that created clash between them.

At least 50 people, including Mayor Ramzan Ali, vice chairman Farzana Jobaida Simki of Sadar upazila, district correspondent Shahmur Islam of Daily Naya Diganta, police constable Mehedi were injured in the clash.

The injured were rushed to the Manikganj Sadar Hospital and other local clinics.

BDST: 1610 HRS, SEP 16, 2014