JCD hartal in 14 dists today

The student front of the BNP called on Sunday daylong hartal in Dhaka and 13 other districts for today (Monday) protesting against confinement of the party's Chairperson Khaleda Zia and demanding release of the party leaders. Dhaka city remains exempted.
On the other hand, the Dhaka district unit of BNP called on Sunday daylong hartal in five upazilas of the district for Monday also protesting against the confinement of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to her office.
The security around BNP chairperson's Gulshan office where she has been remaining 'confined' for nine consecutive days was reinforced on Sunday.
Armed police members took position on both sides of the road in front of the office creating barricades around 12:30 pm.
Besides, seven sand and brick-laden trucks were kept at the two crossings of the Road-86 in front of Khaleda's office.
Four trucks were kept on the southern side and three others on the northern side. Women police members took position in front of the main gate of the office.
The fresh calls for shutdown came on the sixth consecutive day of the ongoing countrywide blockade programme enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance. The day passed off with some stray incidents of violence.
The BNP-led 20-party alliance called the nonstop blockade programme across Bangladesh, as the police barred them from holding a protest rally making the first anniversary of the 10th controversial parliamentary election on January 5 last.
Talking to the FE, Office Secretary of the JCD Md Abdus Sattar Patwary confirmed the strike-call in 14 districts.
He said the shutdown was called by the concerned JCD leaders in their respective districts in protest against the confinement of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and demanding release of arrested party leaders.
The dawn-to-dusk hartal will be effective in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur, Tangail, Narsingdi, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Comilla, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Jamalpur and Netrakona districts.
"It (the strike) will be observed in those districts alongside their earlier announced countrywide nonstop blockade programme," he said.
However, the sixth day of the non-stop blockade passed off in the capital and elsewhere across the country amid few stray incidents of violence.
A passenger bus was torched in the afternoon at Shewrapara in the capital while incidents of vandalism and clashes were reported from Rangpur, Sylhet and Habiganj districts.
Vehicular movement was less than usual in the morning but the traffic increased sharply in the afternoon, causing traffic congestions at various intersections of the city.
It was also found that buses left the capital for adjacent districts like Gazipur, Manikganj, Narayanganj, Narshingdi, Mymensingh, Netrakona, Comilla and Munshiganjs in the afternoon.
A good number of private cars and microbuses were also seen plying the city streets.
The scenario was different at the Sadarghat launch terminal and the Kamalapur railway station as trains and launches were seen carrying an excessive number of passengers.
Besides, an additional number of law enforcers, including plainclothe policemen, were deployed at a number of strategic points in the city to avert any untoward incident during the transport blockade.
Sources with the BNP said the party observed the blockade on the day in a relaxed mood considering the first phase of Biswa Ijtema, which ended today (Sunday) with Akheri Munajat. Thousands of Muslims were returning home after joining it on the day.
UNB adds: A press release, signed by Dhaka district BNP president Abdul Mannan
and general secretary Amanullah Aman, said the daylong shutdown in five upazilas of the district was also meant for protesting the countrywide killing and arrest of leaders and activists of the party.
The five upazilas are Dohar, Nawabganj, Dhamrai, Keraniganj and Savar.
A police official wishing anonymity said that the security measures had been beefed up again on information that BNP leaders and activists who joined the Biswa Ijtema were likely to move towards BNP chairperson's office to free her.
Police set up check-points at different entry points in Gulshan and Banani areas restricting the movement of outsiders.
BNP vice-chairman Selima Rahman, chairperson's adviser Abdul Qayum,
special assistants Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas and Mahbub Al Amin
Dew, press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan, Mahila Dal Secretary Shirin
Sultana and some other female BNP leaders were staying with Khaleda in the office.
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