Hartal passing laxly

The nationwide hartal (shutdown), called for Sunday by some Islamist parties, got underway at 6:00am. No untoward incident is reported from anywhere in the country till 8:40am, when the report was filed. The daylong hartal, being enforced by Sammilito Islami Dal Samuho, a coalition of Islamic parties, is getting little response from the general public. Movement of all modes of transports have been normal in Dhaka city, Narayanganj and the districts adjoining Dhaka. All government offices and many private ones opened in the morning with almost normal attendance. Courts, educational institutions and garment factories opened as usual. Hartal is being observed in the port city of Chittagong lackadaisically. The Islamist parties are enforcing the general strike demanding recently-removed minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui’s trial for his disparaging remarks about Holy Hajj and Tabligh Jamaat. Maulana Zafrullah Khan, secretary general of the coalition, announced the shutdown programme at a press conference at the National Press Club on Wednesday, as the government has ‘failed’ to arrest Latif Siddiqui for his offensive remarks within their given deadline, according to private TV channels.