Four people were killed as vehicles were set on fire and pickets hurled bricks and clashed with police and ruling party men at places across the country on Monday, the first day of the 60-hour general strike being enforced by the BNP-led opposition alliance.
Several hundred people, mostly pickets, were also injured.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance enforces a fresh spell of countrywide general strike from Monday morning to Wednesday evening pressing for holding the next general elections under a ‘non-party’ government.
The deaths were reported from Lalmonirhat, Natore and Chittagong districts and the capital’s suburb Savar.
Of the four killed, one was an opposition activist, two apparel workers and the rest one was an agricultural worker.
BNP-backed Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activist Nasir Uddin was killed in police firing during a triangular clash between pickets, the police and the ruling Awami League activists at Patgram upazila in Lalmonirhat.
Agricultural worker Ishaq Molla killed as the pickets hurled brickbats at a truck carrying labours in the morning at Gurudaspur upazila in Natore.
Apparel factory employee Mohammad Jakir died as a human-hauler overturned after being chased by pickets in Chittagong.
Another apparel factory employee Mustafizur Rahman Mukul died at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital of burn injuries he received when pickets set a CNG-run auto rickshaw, which was carrying him, on the previous night at Savar.
Pickets blasted crude bombs, vandalised vehicles, set vehicles on fire and fought pitched battles with the police and ruling party activists at places across the country.
Acting BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, ‘Two BNP activists were killed by law enforcers and Awami League terrorists.’
He said more than 1,800 activists were injured, 500
arrested and 8,000 prosecuted and four were jailed for different terms by mobile court.
Normal life across the country has been disrupted since Monday morning as no long-route transports remain off the highways, markets, shops and commercial establishments and most of the educational institutions remained closed.
Commercial banks and government offices were open on Monday.
Examinations for the first two days of Junior School Certificate and equivalent Junior Dakhil Certificate have been deferred due to the hartal. National University authorities also postponed their examinations.
New Age correspondent in Lalmonirhat reported that, Chhatra Dal activist Nasir Uddin was killed as police opened fire during a clash between the pickets and Awami League men near Dharla bridge at Patgram in the morning.
At least 25 were injured, including four by bullets, and they were admitted to Patgram upazila health complex and Rangpur Medical College Hospital.
Witness said that the clash erupted when Awami League activists barred a BNP-Jamaat procession. Both the groups blasted over 20 crude bombs.
Patgram police officer-in-charge Sohrab Hossain said that they fired tear gas shells and bullets to disperse the clashers.
New Age correspondent in Natore reported that agricultural worker Ishaq Molla was killed when pickets hurled bricks at a truck carrying labours in Arhmari bridge area on the Banpara-Hatikumrul road at Gurudaspur upazila in the morning.
Ishaq Molla hailed from of Tarash upazila in Sirajganj and went to Natore seeking work.
Ishaq was rushed to Gurudaspur upazila health complex and later died at the hospital, Gurudaspur police officer-in-charge Shafiqul Islam said.
Mohammad Jakir, the C&F Garment Factory commercial manager, was killed as a human-hauler overturned after being chased by pickets in the Chittagong’s Chandgaon area.
Jakir was rushed to Chittagong Medical College Hospital and later died there.
Mustafizur Rahman Mukul, a purchasing official of Biswas Group died at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Monday of burn injuries he received when a CNG-run auto rickshaw was set on fire at Savar at about 10:30pm on Sunday.
Two others — Hasu Mia, a technician of the group, and the auto-rickshaw driver Mohammad Asad — were also injured in the incident.
A human hauler drive and another boy were injured as crude bombs were hurled at the vehicle at Kamrangirchar in the city in the evening.
In Dhaka, sporadic incidents of arson and bomb explosion took place. Heavy contingent of law enforcers was deployed at key points.
Border Guard Bangladesh joined law enforcers and were seen patrolling streets in the capital.
A crude bomb was hurled targeting at the house of prime minister’s adviser HT Imam at Gulshan at about 7:30pm.
Gulshan police officer-in-charge Rafiqul Islam said that a crude bomb hit the boundary wall of the house. The official added that the adviser was not at his house during the blast.
Several crude bombs were also blasted in different areas of the capital including Azimpur, Rayerbagh, Moghbazar, Malibagh, Bashabo and Jatrbari.
A crude bomb was also hurled at a military vehicle, but it was not exploded and the police fired several bullets at Mughda.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police said that till 6:00pm on Monday, they arrested 21 pickets. Ten of them were jailed for different terms.
Sramik League activists attacked a Swechachasebok Dal processions at Bangshal and later assaulted some journalist who were on duty at the spot.
The police cordoned off the main opposition BNP’s central office during the day’s general strike.
Awami Juba League activists held an anti-hartal rally in front of AL central office at Bangabandhu Avenue.
Two people, including an assistant prosecutor were injured when two crude bombs were exploded on court premises in Bogra.
Earlier in the morning, pickets set fire to a motorcycle at Mahasthan Garh. At about 4:00am, a goods-laden truck lost control and fell on a roadside ditch in Noymail area of Shahjahanpur upazila after the pickets hurled brickbats at it.
New Age correspondent in Patuakhali reported that at least 30 people were injured in a clash between Awami League and BNP activists at Baherchar under Rangabali upazila. (source)