Bajitpur, Nikli observe hartal

One wants to be district, the other opposes inclusion in Bhairab while protests continue in Katiadi

27 October 2009, 17:00 PM

A Correspondent, Kishoreganj

Katiadi Chhatra Samity forms a human chain in front of the National Press Club in the capital on Sunday demanding continuation of Katiadi upazila under the administrative jurisdiction of Kishoreganj district.Photo: Focus Bangla

People of Bajitpur upazila yesterday observed a half-day hartal to press their demand for upgrading the upazila to a district while Nikli people observed a day-long hartal protesting inclusion of the upazila in the proposed Bhairab district. In Bajitpur, shopkeepers kept their shutters down, educational institutions were closed and attendance at banks and government offices was thin during the hartal called by Zilla Bastabayon Parishad. Vehicles were off the roads and bus services from upazila headquarters to other parts of the country remained halted for six hours from 6:00am to 2:00pm. People from all walks of life gathered at the upazila headquarters in the morning and took out a procession. They later joined a rally at Bajitpur rail station with Upazila Chairman and Convener of Zilla Bastabayon Parishad advocate Sheikh AKM Nurunnabi in the chair. The speaker urged the government to declare Bajitpur a district. Otherwise, they threatened to launch a tougher agitation programme. People of Nikli upazila observed a day-long hartal yesterday protesting inclusion of their upazila in the proposed Bhairab district. Shops and educational institutions, banks, insurance and government offices remained closed during the hartal. Hundreds of people from all unions assembled at Nikli upazila headquarters and held a protest rally in front of upazila parishad office with Upazila Chairman Md Ikbal Hossain in the chair. Upazila AL President Md Ishakh Bhuiyan, General Secretary Saiful Islam, upazila BNP President Matiur Rahman, Upazila Parishad Vice- Chairman Hafiza Khatun and UP Chairman Burhan Uddin addressed the rally. Meanwhile, hundreds of people of Sararchar and Manikkhali under Katiadi upazila yesterday staged a demonstration at Sararchar and Manikkhali rail stations protesting inclusion of Katiadi upazila in the proposed Bhairab district. The agitating people put up barricades on rail tracks, disrupting train services. Kishoreganj-bound inter-city Egarosindur express train, Bhairab bound Isha kha train and Chittagong-bound mail train remained stranded at the stations for around three hours, causing sufferings to the passengers. A protest rally was also held at Katidadi bus stand yesterday with Katiadi Pourasava Mayor Tofazzal Hossain Khan Dilip in the chair.