30 hurt in pre-hartal violence
At least 30 people including a police man were injured yesterday evening in a clash between law enforcers and BNP activists in Rajshahi city.
Khan Mohammad Shahriar, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Boalia Police Station, sustained a bullet injury to the chest during the clash that lasted for about 40 minutes, reported our staff correspondent, Rajshahi.
The clash began around 6:30pm when police obstructed a pre-hartal procession heading towards Zero Point of Shaheb Bazar after a half-an-hour's rally at Bhubanmahan Park.
The procession of some 100 BNP activists tried to cross the police barricade but police men charged batons and fired 40 tear-shells to disperse the crowd. The BNP activists pelted police men with brickbats and vandalised 15 shops, one car and five motorbikes.
Joint Secretary of the district BNP unit Mizanur Rahman Minu, Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul and Shafiqul Haq Milon were among the injured in the clash.
Nayek Khalilur Rahman with injuries to the head was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
HIGHEST POLICE PRESENCE IN DHAKA
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police authorities yesterday noon started deploying police at key points in the capital to avert any possible pre-hartal violence.
At a press briefing yesterday at DMP headquarters, DMP Commissioner Benazir Ahmed said a huge number of police members will be present on city streets today to resist all kinds of violation in the name of hartal.
The main opposition BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami on Wednesday called a countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal today in protest at what they claimed was the government's move to cancel the caretaker government system.
The DMP commissioner said law enforcers' duty is to uphold citizens' rights in any situation. The police will do anything for maintaining peace in the capital. The DMP commissioner requested city dwellers to keep them from all kind of destructive activities during the hartal.
The police would not harass any political activists or people until they engage themselves in violence, he added.
About traffic movement during the hartal, the DMP commissioner said police will provide highest security for buses and other vehicles.
CALL FOR WITHDRAWING HARTAL
Several socio-political organisations yesterday urged the main opposition BNP to withdraw today's hartal considering the public suffering and economic loss of the state.
Bangladesh Awami Olama League organised an anti-hartal meeting at Dhaka Reporters' Unity yesterday where speakers said BNP does not have any right to obstruct country's development in the name of hartal.
They urged BNP lawmakers to join parliament to discuss their demands and find a solution.
Bangladesh Christian Association also strongly demanded withdrawal of today's hartal.
Meanwhile, former BNP lawmaker Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman at a press conference at his city residence said today's hartal will be harmful to BNP.
He said leaders and activists of BNP will mostly remain out of the streets in the capital. Akhtaruzzaman requested BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to move around the capital herself during the strike.
A press release yesterday says the mini buses of Dhaka Sarak Paribahan Samity will be plying the city routs today during hartal.
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