DHAKA: A dawn-to-dusk hartal, enforced by an alliance of the Islamic political parties, is underway across the country, beginning from 6:00am on Sunday.
The alliance called the strike as government did not arrest former minister Abdul Latif Siddique by October 22 despite extension of ultimatum for making derogatory remarks on Prophet (SM).
Hartal-supporters brought out brisk processions in Bangshal and Mirpur areas in the morning.
No casualties and untoward situations have reported in the city and elsewhere of the country yet since the hartal began.
Vehicle movement was seen increasing around the city's main thoroughfares as the time passes. Commuters were traveling to workplaces. A good numbers of private vehicles were plying in the city. Shops were seen opening at the different places of the capital.
Government and private offices and educational institutions remain open as usual. Railway and waterway communications remain on schedule.
In the city, no bus on long distance-route left Sayedabad Bus Terminal while few number of bus were seen leaving Mohakhali and Gabtoli Bus Terminals, reported banglanews correspondents from the spots.
Security has been beefed up across city. Additional police forces remain deployed across the city. Border Guard Bangladesh has taken position at the city’s strategic points and patrolling on the city streets.
BGB have also been deployed in several other places of the country including Sylhet and Chittagong.
Earlier in the beginning of this month, the alliance gave a 15-day ultimatum to government for arresting recently sacked Telecom Minister for his derogatory remarks over Prophet (SM), hajj and Tablighi Jamaat.
The alliance members include Khilafat Majlis, Khilaft-e-Islam, Islami Oikya Jote, Nejam-e-Islam, Muslim League and Hefajat-e Islam.
The then posts, telecommunications and information technology minister drew widespread flak both at home and abroad for his “derogatory” remarks in New York on September 28 over hajj, Tablighi Jamaat, prime minister’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and journalists.
Later, Siddique lost both the cabinet and the Awami League presidium memberships for his remarks. AL also expelled him from the party permanently.
The former long-severing AL veteran, in a reply to a party show cause notice, apologized to the party because it faced an embarrassing situation for him.
But, he, however, has not sought any apology for his remarks to either the party or the country people yet.
BDST: 0948 HRS, OCT 26, 2014
