20-party\\\'s hartal observed in Sylhet

SYLHET, Dec 30 (UNB): The half-day hartal, enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance protesting the arrest of its leaders and activists during Monday's hartal, was observed peacefully in the district today (Tuesday).

Witnesses said when a group of activists of Jamaat-Shibir brought out a procession in Sagardighi Par area of the city at about 7:15 am police obstructed them.

Later, police arrested two Shibir activists-Saidur Rahman Rafi and Mohammad Imdadullah-when they set tyres afire in the area.

Motorised vehicles stayed off the roads while shops remained closed.

However, no long-route buses left the district town.

Sylhet city unit BNP member secretary Badruzzaman Selim announced the hartal in the Court Point area of the city Monday.

A large number of policemen remained deployed in the district to fend off any trouble.

Police arrested BNP's metropolitan unit convener Dr Shahriar Hossain Chowdhury and two Chhatra Dal activists from Chouhatta Point in the city during the shutdown Monday.