Hartal disrupts life, businesses

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FE Report
Dozens were injured and some were arrested amid sporadic clashes during the BNP-called nationwide strike Sunday to protest eviction of its chairperson Khaleda Zia from her cantonment residence.
Two former women lawmakers and a DCC ward commissioner were among those arrested in the capital, as the law-enforcers swooped on the protestors who were trying to hold marches along the key city streets protesting the eviction.
Police also fired tear-gas shells and charged batons to disperse the unruly pro-hartal activists who ignored tight security measures to torch a bus and hurl cocktail to a police van at Mohammadpur and Old Dhaka in the capital respectively.
Witnesses said the pickup van was burnt in front of National Hospital in old Dhaka at about 10:05 am, while a passenger bus was set afire at Nurjahan Road in Mohammadpur at about 11:50 am.
BNP senior leaders claimed that the law-enforcement agencies have arrested nearly 100 of their activists who were holding peaceful protest during the countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal.
However, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) rejected the claim, saying they picked up 23 people from the city streets on charges of breaking law and order during the strike hours.
"We've arrested 23 pickets from across the city for their involvement in various subversive acts to create panic among the people," said DMP spokesman Walid Hossain, adding that the strike was largely peaceful, except a few isolated incidents.
Earlier in the morning, Police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members entered the BNP Naya Paltan office premises and arrested a number of leaders and activists, including former MP Rehana Akter Renu and Rasheda Begum.
Pro-BNP lawyers, led by Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia, brought out a procession from the High Court premises towards the National Press Club at around 12:30pm before being dispersed by policemen.
Later, demonstrating lawyers went back to the Supreme Court. Huge police personnel were deployed in and around the Supreme Court and Ramna area to avert further untoward incidents.
In protest against the police action, Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum (JAF) at an impromptu press conference announced protest meetings at the district bars throughout the country today (Monday).
In another incident, unidentified miscreants exploded two cocktails at Malibagh at around 10:30am. Police and witnesses said some criminals hurled the cocktails for creating panic among the residents and flee the scene hurriedly. No casualties were reported.
A group of Chhatra Dal activists torched a police bike and a private car near Popular Diagnostic Centre at Dhanmondi in the morning, leading to arrest of its five activists.
Sources at bus terminals and Sadarghat launch terminal said the departure timings of their vehicles and water-vessels were affected. Authorities of several inter-district bus companies said they had to readjust their schedules due to the hartal.
The sudden strike also caused immense sufferings to the homebound people, who were seen waiting at the bus counters for long hours, as at least 80 per cent of the long-route buses failed to maintain their schedules.
In Chittagong, police charged batons and lobbed tear-gas shells on a BNP procession during the hartal, leaving 10-12 people, including ex-minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, injured.
Witnesses said police swung into action on the BNP procession in front of its party office at Noor Ahmed Road at about 12:15pm. Policemen used batons and 20 tear gas shells for dispersing the procession.
Chittagong City BNP president Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, City BNP senior vice-president Dastagir Chowdhury, and ex-MP Rozi Kabir were among the injured. Three policemen were also injured during chase and counter-chase.
Meanwhile, cargo handling in the port remained fully operative, but cargo delivery from the port was suspended, as the trucks and covered vans could not enter the jetties.