DHAKA: The day-long hartal, called by Jessore unit of BNP, is progressing in the district on Thursday amid stray incidents of vandalism, picketing.
The party-men are observing the shutdown in protest against filing case against 49 leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat.
Hartal supporters vandalized a bus at Jessore Bus Terminal when it tried to start journey at 9:00am.
Additional police forces were deployed at city’s strategic points to avert any sabotage.
Meanwhile, police on Wednesday night detained four people to avoid possible sabotage ahead of the hartal.
District police spokesperson assistant superintendent of police Reshma Sharmin confirmed the matter to banglanews.
On the other hand, local units of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami observed half-day hartal in Manikganj and Barisal respectively amid stray incidents of violence.
The hartals were marked amid the third day of nationwide blocked in roadway and waterway for indefinite period enforced by BNP.
Banglanews District Correspondent in Barisal reports: the half-day hartal, called by local unit of Jamaat, was observed across the district demanding release of its detained leaders and activists.
Supporters of Jamaat and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir brought out protest procession in Kashipur area of the city around 7:30am and set fire on the road pouring petrol.
On the other hand, leaders and activists of BNP and its front organizations brought a protest procession on Vatikhana road of the metropolitan in support of the blockade.
At that time, police chased them and picked up a BNP man.
Due to blockade, no bus on long-distance route either left from or came to the city’s central bus terminal in Natullahbad area. Launch plying, however, remains normal.
Banglanews Manikganj Correspondent adds: Leaders and activists of the district BNP unit observed a half day hartal there.
The hartal was enforced demanding the end of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s confinement and release of the party’s acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
BDST: 1057 HRS, JAN 08, 2015
** Half-day hartal for Thursday in 2 dists
