478 detained across country so far as police crackdown on hartal
Rallies and clashes ensued in various areas of the country while long-haul transportation has been halted on selective highways
In the first hartal seen in a few years, police are enforcing a crackdown while sporadic incidents of chases and counter chases between law enforcers and groups of political protestors are being reported from different parts of the country.
88 BNP-Jamaat men held in Bogura
Police detained 88 leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami in Bogura during today's hartal programme.
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Most of the detainees have been shown arrested in cases filed under the Special Powers Act, police said.
According to police, 88 BNP-Jamaat men were detained during drives in different upazilas of Bogura on Sunday. They were later shown arrested and sent to jail through court.
199 arrested in Naogaon
Police have arrested 199 BNP leaders and activists during overnight raids on Saturday in Naogaon district.
Bayezid Hossain, member secretary of Naogaon district BNP, said 114 partymen have been sent to jail after they were shown arrested in different cases.
He, however, claimed that the number of arrested leaders has crossed 200.
Naogaon Superintendent of Police Rashidul Haque said the accused in different cases were arrested as part of routine work to avert any untoward situation during the political unrest.
14 arrested in Sitakunda
Fourteen BNP leaders and activists have been arrested when they tried to take position on Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Sitakunda during the party's hartal programme today.
Sitakunda police station Officer-in-Charge Tofayel Ahmed some BNP activists gathered on Dhaka-Chattogram highway with the intent of causing unrest during the hartal programme.
Police arrested 14 BNP men in separate drives on the highway, he said, adding that they were facing various charges from previously filed cases.
The arrestees were sent to jail after they were produced in court.
22 detained in Lakshmipur
Police detained 22 leaders and activists of BNP during the party's countrywide daylong hartal programme today.
Confirming the news, Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique said the process of filing cases against the detainees was underway.
Meanwhile, in Ramgati upazila, two policemen were injured as picketers hurled bricks at them.
Earlier in the morning, BNP leaders and activists held a protest in the Iterpur area of the district, igniting tree trunks and tires on the road.
12 detained in Cumilla
Leaders of the BNP in Cumilla have alleged that have police detained 12 leaders and activists from a procession around 8am on Sunday.
Cumilla Divisional Organising Secretary of BNP Mostaq Mia claimed that there was no provocation during the procession held at Chowkbazar, Cumilla.
"Our peaceful march was suddenly attacked by the police. They arrested 12 of our activists and injured 20 others," he added.
Cumilla Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Kamran Hossain said the miscreants threw cocktails at the police.
In self-defense, the police chased them and dispersed them. "Seven people were arrested from the procession. They are being interrogated. Further action will be taken after the inquiry," he added.
Meanwhile, a video of the incident has spread on Facebook. In the video, a procession was entering the Chowkbazar area, with women at the forefront.
The police came forward and asked them something, before suddenly attacking the procession.
They started beating the leaders and firing blanks. Police then arrested some of the activists.
Elsewhere in Cumilla, six people were reportedly injured in a clash between two factions of Jubo League, said locals. They have been sent to the Comilla Medical College Hospital.
The incident took place in front of Chowkbazar Faisal Hospital in the city at 9:30am on Sunday.
The police later brought the situation under control, confirmed Cumilla Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Kamran Hossain.
Meanwhile, an Awami League leader who participated in an anti-hartal rally in Cumilla died of cardiac arrest.
The deceased was Cumilla Mahanagar Ward 4 Awami League's President Billal Hossain, confirmed ward No 4 Councilor Nasir Uddin Nazim.
He said Billal Hossain came to Kandirpar from Kaptan Bazar with a procession around 10:30am on Sunday.
He suddenly felt chest pain and collapse. He was taken to the city's Moon Hospital where the doctor on duty declared him dead.
Swechasebak League leader dies in Lalmonirhat
A Swechasebak League leader died after a clash between the Awami League and the BNP at Mahendranagar union in Lalmonirhat's Sadar upazila on Sunday (29 October).
The deceased, Jahangir Alam, died at Rangpur Medical College Hospital around 1:30pm, according to Lalmonirhat District Swechasebak League President Saiful Islam.
Confirming the death, Lalmonirhat Sadar police station Inspector (Investigation) Swapan Kumar Sarkar said, "We could not confirm his political identity. But we got news that he was active in politics." According to police and local sources, BNP men took a position at Mahendranagar union around 11am during BNP's hartal today.
At the same time, the leaders and activists of Awami League and its allied organisations began to gather for their peace rally. After both sides came face to face a clash ensued as tensions rose rapidly.
3 detained in Sylhet
The police detained three people in Sylhet's Zindabazar area, confirmed officer-in-charge (OC) of Katwali police station Mohammad Ali Mahmud, although he did not disclose their names.
He said a procession was brought out in Zindabazar around 8:30am on Sunday, where BNP activists attacked the police.
At this time, the police chased them away, he added.
According to locals, more than 50 BNP leaders and activists came out on the streets of Kazi Elias and Tantipara areas in Zindabazar and started pelting bricks and stones at the police.
They then retreated when the police advanced towards them.
Even though the transport workers announced to keep the buses running, no long-route buses left Sylhet Central Bus Terminal in the morning.
However, some vehicles were seen commuting inside the district.
Commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) Md Ilias Sharif said, "We are in the field for the overall security of the people of Sylhet. If anyone tries any type of sabotage, we will strictly suppress it."
Meanwhile, BNP activists have been seen placing tree branches on the highway to obstruct vehicle movement on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway.
13 injured in clash between BNP activists and police in Bogura
At least 13 people were injured and 17 vehicles were vandalised on Sunday.
BNP activists blocked the Dhaka-Dinajpur highway in Sadar Upazila area. When the law and order forces tried to evacuate them, a clash broke out. At this time, the official car of Bogra Sadar Upazila Executive Officer was vandalised. Later they also vandalised some other cars. Daily Jayugantar's reporter Shakil was wounded on his leg after being hit by a brick and a few police officials were also injured.
Previously around 8:30am on 29 October, a procession led by District Chhatra Dal General Secretary Noore Alam Siddique Reagan tried to move towards Satmatha intersection in Bogura.
However, the procession returned to the party office on Nawabbari road as the police obstructed them.
Around 10:15am a group of Awami League tried to advance towards BNP party office through Galapatti road in Fateh Ali Bazar area of the city, which led to a clash between the two parties.
There were a few cocktail explosions and brickbats were thrown about.
Later, the police fired several rounds of rubber bullets to bring the situation under control.
When asked about the overall situation, Bogura Additional Superintendent of Police Snigdho Akhtar said a heated atmosphere has been created with the BNP leaders and workers in the city due to the hartal.
"Five rubber bullets were fired to control the situation. All is well now," he said while expressing hope that nothing untoward happens.
2 cops injured in Lakshmipur
Two police officials have been injured by brickbats thrown by picketers around 9am in Azadnagar area of Lakshmipur.
They have received primary treatment at Upazila Health Complex.
The injured have been identified as Sub-Inspector of Ramgati police station Nazmul and Assistant Sub-inspector Mannan.
Ramgati police station OC Mohammad Saifuddin Anwar said hartal supporters were picketing at Azadnagar Bridge area of Ramgati-Sonapur road.
When the police went to the spot, they threw bricks at the police which injured two policemen.
The OC said legal action will be taken in this incident.
Also, long-haul buses have been halted in Lakshmipur but rickshaws are plying the city.
Police arrests 70 BNP activists in Rajshahi
BNP leaders have claimed at least 70 activists, including BNP leader Mamun Or Rashid, have been arrested by police in Rajshahi city.
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) Commissioner Biplab Bijoy Talukder also confirmed the information and said they have been arrested on charges of sabotage.
Meanwhile, long-haul buses have been halted, with only a few intra-district buses operating due to lack of passengers.
It was seen that most Dhaka-bound bus counters were closed in Rajshahi's Shiroil bus terminal. The counters that were open were completely empty.
Masud Rana, Rajshahi manager of Desh Travels, said that we could not run the bus due to passenger shortage. How to drive the bus if there are no passengers? The bus will run if there are passengers in the afternoon.
However, battery operated easybikes, rickshaws, motorcycles were seen plying on the roads. All markets, offices and shops in the city are also open.
Although BNP leaders and activists could not be seen at different points of the city since morning, various leaders and activists including Awami League, Jubo League, Chhatra League have taken positions at the intersections of the city.
RMP Additional Commissioner of Police Bijoy Basak said that no major sabotage and untoward incidents have been reported so far. They are fully prepared to protect people's lives, he added.
Jhalakathi BNP member secretary's chamber vandalised
Miscreants allegedly attacked and vandalised the lawyer's chamber of Jhalakathi District BNP Member Secretary Advocate Shahadat Hossain.
District BNP Member Secretary Advocate Shahadat Hossain complained that when he was preparing for a march in support of the hartal in the morning, he was attacked and his law chamber on the ground floor of his house on Mahila College road in the city around 11am was vandalised.
At that time, two motorcycles in front of his chamber were also vandalised.
Police detained three BNP activists from the spot, claim BNP leaders.
District Awami League joint general secretary Tarun Karmakar said that the district Awami League and its allied organisations held a peaceful march and meeting in Jhalakathi to protest against BNP's hartal.
Earlier on Saturday night, 18 BNP leaders and activists including three from Sadar Upazila, six from Rajapur, five from Nalchiti and four from Kathalia were arrested by the police, siad Superintendent of Police Afruzul Haque Tutul.
BNP office set on fire in Khulna
A BNP office in Khulna's Boilkhali has been set on fire.
"50-60 people chanting pro-Awami League slogans came on motorcycles and set fire to the BNP office," said a tea stall owner on condition of anonymity.
BNP convenor Shafiqul Alam said, Awami League leaders have set fire to the BNP office. They also vandalised the nearby shops, he added.
Meanwhile, transportation was not affected in Khulna, as public transport was running as usual.
Around 10am it was seen that buses on 18 routes were operating normally from the Sonadanga bus stand of Khulna.
Khulna Bus-Minibus Coach Owners Association Joint Convener Anwar Hossain Sona said, "No hartal is being observed in Khulna. We have kept all public services open."
Deputy Police Commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police Mohammad Tajul Islam said, "There was no violence anywhere in the city. If people are made to suffer in the name of hartal, it will be resisted. The KMP has taken preparation."
70 BNP men arrested in B'baria over cocktail explosions
Police in Brahmanbaria have arrested 70 leaders and activists of the BNP over the explosion of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), also known as cocktails, in the city's Kalibar Mor and Power House Road areas.
The explosives were detonated on Saturday night (28 October).
The arrestees include member secretary of the district Swechchhasebak Dal Mollah Saluddin, former vice-president of the district Chhatra Dal Sejan Mahmud Tushar, Javed Mia, Sohag, Abdullah Al Mamun, Md Shaheed Belal Siddiqui, Billal Hossain, Faizur Rahman and Imam.
Besides, the police recovered four unexploded cocktails from the spot.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Brahmanbaria Sadar Model Police Station Aslam Hossain alleged the arrested detonated eight explosives in two places in the city at night.
Later, they were arrested during raids in different parts of the city.
While there has been a spree of arrests across the country, some parts look like the hartal called by the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami isn't being observed.
Cox's Bazar quiet, Awami League brings out peace rally
Although there was no one from BNP-Jamaat on the road, the leaders and workers of Cox's Bazar district, municipal Awami League and allied organisations took to the streets to deter the hartal.
In the morning, district and municipal Awami League brought out an anti-hartal rally in Cox's Bazar city, following which a peace rally was held.
Drivers of public vehicles have reported that no obstruction was faced while transporting passengers in Chakaria, Eidgaon, Ramu, Ukhiya, Teknaf and Cox's Bazar sadar upazilas.
Additional Superintendent of Cox's Bazar Police (Administration) Md Rafiqul Islam said police teams are on high alert at different points across the district including highways.
There are also some RAB teams in the field. Any kind of violence will be combatted, he added.
No incident of violence has been reported since morning said the officers-in-charge of Chakaria, Teknaf, Ramu, Ukhiya and Cox's Bazar sadar police stations.
No BNP rallies in Kushtia, AL brings out anti-hartal rallies
Hartal is being observed peacefully in Kushtia. BNP-Jamaat did not bring out any procession in the district, rather Awami League brought out peace rallies.
Meanwhile, long-haul buses have been suspended. However, intra-city buses, rickshaws and autorickshaws are operating as usual.
Long-haul buses halted in Moulvibazar
No long-haul buses have been halted in Moulvibazar amid the hartal called by BNP on Sunday.
However, no incidents of BNP protests or unrest were reported in the district. On the otherhand, Awami League supporters have taken position at important points along with the police.
District Jubo League and allied organisations have been stationed in Chaumuhani of Moulvibazar since morning. A few rickshaws and private vehicles are plying the city.
Going to Dhakaia bus stand in Kodalipur area of the city, it can be seen that the counters of long-distance buses including Dhaka are closed. Even the buses going to Sylhet are shut down.
