Shops Shut for Hours at Shaheb Bazar

Cloth traders observe hartal, jewellers fear revenge attack

3 May 2009, 18:00 PM

RU Correspondent

Cloth traders at Rajshahi Shaheb Bazar observed a half-day hartal yesterday protesting Saturday's attack allegedly by jewellers while jewellers kept their business shut fearing reprisal. Cloth traders and jewellers clashed at the bazar on Saturday, leaving at least 50 people, including traders, policemen and journalist injured. According to witnesses, the clash erupted when two cloth traders assaulted a jeweller at his shop over selling a gold chain. The news prompted the jewellers to retaliate and they ransacked 30 cloth shops and damaged furniture and other properties. Around 200 cloth traders yesterday kept shutters of their shops down for six hours from 8:00am. They staged a demonstration in front of the market demanding compensation for the damaged goods and punishment to the jewellers responsible for the attack Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) on Saturday night formed a six-member committee, headed by former RCCI chairman Hassen Ali, to investigate the incident. The committee has been asked to submit its report within five days. The committee members yesterday visited the market and assured the agitating cloth traders of taking action against the jewellers involved in the incident. Jewellers at Shaheb Bazer kept their business shut yesterday fearing attack by cloth traders. Reaz Uddin, president of Rajshahi Gold Businessmen Association, said they are trying to sit with the leaders of Rajshahi Cloth Businessmen Association to resolve the issue. Additional police have been deployed at the market to avert further incident.