Jamaat hartal continues amid low-key response

The 24-hour nationwide hartal, enforced by Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh demanding the release of its jailed nayeb-e-ameer Delwar Hossain Sayedee, continued amid poor response on Thursday. In the capital, Jamaat-Shibir activists brought out processions in support of the shutdown in different areas, including Shyamoly, Mirpur Commerce College, Mahakhali level-crossing and Shajahanpur, early in the morning only to be dispersed by police. Vehicular movement in the city was almost normal as additional policemen were deployed at important points to fend off any untoward incident. No major incident of violence was reported from any part of the country till filling of the report at about 7:40 pm, except some stray incidents. In Narayanganj, some 10 vehicles were vandalised during a procession of Islami Chhtra Shibir in Galachipa area around 8.00am. Later, police charged baton to disperse the pickets and arrested one Shibir man. In Laxmipur, police charged baton on a Jamaat-Shibir procession in the town in the morning and arrested eight of their activists, including Laxmipur Jamaat Ameer Faruk Hossain Nur Nabi. In Sylhet, Jamaat-Shibir men brought out processions in the city’s Ambarkhana, Darshandewri, Khasdabir, Sobhanighat, Kumarpara and Eidgah areas in the morning, backing the general strike. The pickets vandalised a CNG-driven auto-rickshaw and a truck at Darshandewri in the morning. In Comilla, pickets torched a cotton-laden truck at Barera in Debidar upazila in the morning. Later, firefighters doused the flame.