Panchhari hartal call 'foiled'

22 August 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari

The hartal called yesterday in Panchhari upazila (UZ) jointly by Parbatya Bangali Chhatra Parishad (PBCP) and Samo Adhikar Andolon (SAA) protesting the recent killing after rape of a woman went unheeded. All sorts of vehicles were on roads while business centres, schools, colleges and all offices functioned smoothly, sources said. However, locals said the hartal call fell flat due to influence of ruling party and its front organisations here. SAA President Dr Habibur Rahman alleged that ruling party men threatened people to drive out of the locality if they join the strike. Central PBCP President Mohammad Alamgir Kabir said their supporters and activists fled the areas due to threats by ruling party men.