Bomb blasts, clashes mark Sylhet hartal

Hartal supporters exploded improvised bombs and clashed with police in Sylhet as they enforced a half-day shutdown in the north-eastern district, including the divisional city. Local unit leaders and workers of the BNP-led 20-party alliance were out on the streets since Tuesday morning. The BNP-led coalition called the 6am to 2pm shutdown to protest the arrest of its activists from Sylhet during Monday’s nationwide general strike. Sylhet Metropolitan Police's Additional Deputy Commissioner Rahmat Ullah said Islami Chhatra Shibir activists took out a procession and exploded several crude bombs. Police fired blank shots to disperse strikers who tried to block the Sylhet-Sunamganj road with burning logs. A shutdown campaigner was arrested from there. Long-haul buses remained grounded but train communication was unaffected. Rickshaws and auto-rickshaws dominated the usually clogged streets. Most of the businesses were shut, according to a news agency.