DHAKA: The 1st phase of three-day hartal, enforced by Jamaat-e-Islami, is progressing across the country amid stray incidents of picketing.

It began from 6:00am on Thursday.

In Dhaka, the activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhattra Shibir torched a passenger bus during the hartal hours in city’s Kadamtali area at noon.

Police sources said that a group of Jamaat-Shibir men brought out a sudden procession in the area and torched a passenger bus.

However, police failed to nab anyone as they fled the scene immediately after the incident.

Kadamtali Thana Officer-in-Charge Abdus Salam confirmed the matter to banglanews.

However, leaders and activists of Jamaat-Shibir brought out processions in Rampura and Chawk Bazar areas in city.

Jamaat men allegedly used several minor boys to explode a pair of crude bombs in front of a CNG refueling station opposite to the Bihari (stranded Pakistani) camp at Pallabi in the city, said Pallabi Thana Officer-In-Charge Ziauzzaman.

Confirming the matter to banglanews, he said no casualties were reported in the explosion and none was held in this connection.

In most of the city spots, member of Jamaat-Shibir have not seen either picketing or bringing out procession.    

A good number of vehicles were seen plying around the city's main thoroughfares. Commuters were traveling to workplaces on the last working day of the week. Private vehicles were also seen running in the city streets.

Government and private offices remained open as usual. Waterway communications remained on schedule. Shopkeepers kept their shops opened at the different places of the capital.

In Gaibandha, the hartal supporters vandalized around 11 vehicles blocking the roads and highways in Palashbari upazila.

Officer-in-charge of Palashbari Thana Mazibur Rahman confirmed the matter to banglanews.

In Mymensingh, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpi Goshthi, district Sangsad brought out a possession against the hartal.

In Barisal, district Awami Leauge, Barisal University and BM College Chhatra League also brought out possession protesting the hartal.

Banglanews Staff Correspondent reports from the city’s Kamlapur Railway Station, all trains left the station following the schedule since morning.

However, no bus on long distance-routes left the city’s Sayedabad, Mohakhali and Gabtoli Bus Terminals.

Security forces remained on alert across the city to avert any untoward situation. Additional law enforcers had also taken positions at the city’s strategic points. Law enforcers were seen patrolling on the city streets.

On Wednesday, Jamaat-e-Islami announced hartal for Thursday, Sunday and Monday minutes after International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) awarded death sentence to its chief Motiur Rahman Nizami on charges of crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.

** Jamaat hartal on Thursday, Sunday, Monday 

BDST: 1841 HRS, OCT 29, 2014