DHAKA: The dawn-to-dusk hartal, enforced by an alliance of the Islamic political parties, is observed across the country, beginning from 6:00am on Sunday.

The alliance called the shutdown as the government could not arrest former minister Abdul Latif Siddique by October 22 in spite of issuing ultimatum for his derogatory remarks on hajj and Prophet (SM).

No casualties and untoward situations reported in the city and elsewhere of the country during hartal hours.

Some hartal-supporters brought out brisk processions in city’s Bangshal and Mirpur areas in the morning.

Movements of the vehicles were seen increasing around the city’s main thoroughfares as time passed.

The city dwellers went to their workplaces. A good numbers of private vehicles were found plying on the roads in the city. Shops were seen open at the different places of the capital.

The government and private offices and educational institutions remained open as usual. Railways and waterways communications remained on schedule, said a spot account of the hartal.

In the city, no bus on long distance-route left Sayedabad Bus terminal while few numbers of buses were seen leaving Mohakhali and Gabtoli bus terminals, reported banglanews correspondents from the different spots.

Security was beefed up across the city during hartal hours. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel took position at city’s strategic points and patrolled on the city streets.

Additional police forces were deployed across the country to avert any untoward situations. Police held 10 people on Saturday and Sunday from Brahmanbaria to avert any unwanted situation in the district.

BGB personnel were 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 Tabligh Jamaat.

The alliance members include Khilafat Majlis, Khilaft-e-Islam, Islami Oikya Jote, Nejam-e-Islam, Muslim League and Hefajat-e Islam.

Latif Siddique drew widespread flak both at home and abroad for his “derogatory” remarks in New York on September 28 over hajj, Tabligh Jamaat, prime minister’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and journalists.

Later, Siddique lost both the cabinet and the AL presidium memberships. Awami League also expelled him from the party permanently.

The former AL senior leader, in a reply to 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.

** Islamic parties’ hartal underway

BDST: 1751 HRS, OCT 26, 2014