CHITTAGONG: A 36-hour hartal, enforced by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led 20-party alliance, is underway in a relaxed mood across in Chittagong division since Tuesday morning.
The shutdown is underway across Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari districts. Besides, Tuesday is the fifteenth day of nationwide road-rail-waterway blockade called by BNP.
Leaders and activists of the alliance were reported nowhere to bring out procession, carry out sabotage and picket across the five districts since the morning.
No bus on long-distance and inter-district routes either left or entered in the city. Private cars and public transports were hardly seen plying on the city thoroughfare. However, light vehicles were seen plying as usual.
Inter-city and local mail trains are running on schedules.
Security measures have been tightened across the city and the districts. Along with additional police forces, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel are put on duty during hartal hours.
Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) additional commissioner (crime and operation) Banaj Kumar Mazumder told banglanews “Additional police remained deployed and six platoons of BGB have also been kept deployed.”
CMP additional deputy commissioner (Detective Branch) M Hasan Chowdhury told banglanews that a total of 2,000 police have been deployed to avert destructive activities.
“If anyone wants to carry out sabotages, police will prevent them in strong hands,’ Hasan warned.
“Six platoons BGB remained deployed in five vulnerable upazilas and additional police forces at all upazilas since earlier,” said AKM Hafiz, superintendent of police at Chittagong.
Metropolitan BNP president, also alliance convener, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury announced a 36-hour hartal on Monday.
The alliance called the shutdown in protest of confining BNP chief Khaleda Zia to her office, arresting the alliance leaders and activists and filing ‘false’ cases against them.
Meanwhile, government withdrew additional police from BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s political office in the city’s Ghulsan area early Monday.
BDST: 0925 HRS, JAN 20, 2015
