Another hartal observed in Jaldhaka for arrest of 'rapist’

The hartal was called by All-party Terrorism Resistance Committee. The upazila town was totally paralysed during the dawn to noon hartal. All shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed. Government officials and staff abstained from their duties while no vehicles plied during hartal hours. Hundreds of people brought out processions from different areas of the town.

The first hartal was observed here on Tuesday.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

A meeting was held at zero point in the town after the hartal. Jamaat leader Selimur Rahman presided over the meeting while it was addressed by Upazila Jubo Dal president Hamidur Rahman, Upazila Jubo League president Abdul Wahed Bahadur, District Chamber of Commerce and Industries vice-president Rafiqul Islam Sabuj, Poura Commissioner Mintu and Upazila Bus workers' Union secretary Afaz Uddin.

Speakers demanded arrest of the 'rapist' who is also the upazila unit president of BNP by tomorrow, otherwise they threatened a tougher agitation including non-stop hartals.

The rape victim, Morsheda Begum, 22, of Uttar Cherenga village, in a case filed with Jaldhaka police accused the Jaldhaka municipal chairman for violating her on August 1.

Denying the allegations, the chairman blamed the 'corrupt' Jamaat lawmaker Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury for hatching a conspiracy against him so that he cannot seek Four-party Alliance nomination in the next parliamentary election. He said this while talking to this correspondent over cell phone yesterday.

However, other sources said Morsheda, mother of a child had an affair with Bablu, 16, a student of class nine.. On the day, she went to a studio with Bablu at Binnakuri hat in Kathali union. Some local people detained them. Later, four youths took Morsheda and Bablu took them to the municipality office.