CHANDPUR: At least 20 people including nine police officials were injured in a clash with BNP men during the dawn-to-dusk hartal in Kachua upazila of the district on Saturday.

Opposition BNP-led 18-party alliance is observing the shutdown in protest against the arrest and murder of upazila Juba Dal Vice-President Delwar Hossain Dulal.

Confirming the matter to banglanews Kachua police station Officer-in-Charge M Alamgir Hossain said that hartal supporters brought out processions in the area, blocked roads and vandalized around 20 vehicles.

On information, police rushed to the spot but seeing the cops, opposition men started throwing brick-chips at them.
In retaliation, police opened fire in self defense that triggered a clash between two groups at around 1:00 pm, leaving 20 people injured including police officials.

In the early hours of hartal, BNP men brought out processions in the area and blocked Jagatpur-Kachua-Dhaka road on Chandpur-Comilla highway by setting fire on tires and putting wood logs.

No inter-district buses entered or left the district. Even, auto rickshaws are not plying on the street of the area. All the shops of the area remained closed.

Due to the shutdown, Dhaka-bound passengers are facing immense sufferings.

Earlier on September 26, local BNP leader Dulal was arrested and then he was allegedly tortured to death in Comilla jail on October 17. So the angry leaders-activists called dawn-to-dusk hartal protesting the incident.

BDST: 1511 HRS, OCT 19, 2013
SH/ AIA/RS/MZR-eic@banglanews24.com