48-hr lax hartal underway amid security vigil

Members of law enforcement agencies maintained a sharp security vigil in Dhaka city as fresh spell of 48-hour nonstop nationwide hartal (shutdown) enforced by Jamaat-e-Islami is underway with lukewarm response from the city dwellers. Jamaat called for the strike in protest against its leader Muhammad Kamaruzzaman’s capital punishment being upheld by the Supreme Court (SC) and the sentencing of Mir Quasem Ali to death on charge of committing crimes against the humanity during Bangladesh’s independence struggles in 1971. The 2-day nationwide shutdown began at 6am today (Wednesday) and will end at 6am on Friday. A spokesman of home ministry said adequate security measures have been taken to protect the people and their property during the general strike. Apart from additional security personnel, troops of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have been deployed in Dhaka and several other cities and towns ahead of the 2nd spell of 48-hour hartal. Earlier, Dhaka Sarak Paribahan Samity decided to ply all modes of transports including buses and minibuses in Dhaka and its adjoining areas defying the hartal, according to a news agency.