Business almost as usual during Jamaat strike in Bangladesh

News Desk

The Daily Star

Date of publication: 19/02/2013

 

Countrywide hartal (strike) called by the Islamic Jamaat-e-Islami party and Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing, the in Bangladesh on Monday received little response from the masses, with almost all companies, offices and educational institutions operate normally.

Respond to the call of Shahbagh protesters, Dhaka city residents defied the hartal as they went to their offices in the morning. Banks and shopping centres also remained open. Buses operated on the roads; However, the number of private cars was thin.

The Jamaat-Shibir activists do not perform large-scale attacks yesterday in contrast to the last days of the four hartal . But the activists tried to show some strength in a few districts.

Their icsma attacked an ambulance implementation Hafiz Abdur Rahman, a sexagenarian heart patient, Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital of Teknaf. Hafiz died of a cardiac arrest on board as rioters started the vehicle after the road barricade destroyed.

A man was also killed in Comilla as police, under attack by Ji Shibir rioters, opened fire.

And in Dhaka, a bus overturned while speeding away from activists in pursuit at Madhya Badda in the hour of the morning. The conductor, Mohammad Iqbal, 35, died on the spot.

Ji-Shibir men also attacked the Office of the ruling party Awami League Binodpur, Rajshahi on Monday night left at least five people injured, two with bullets.

The prevailing party activists in retaliation destroyed a mess of Shibir in Alupotti area. In the ensuing fight blasted both sides different cocktails and a Shibir man sustained injuries.

The Jamaat-Shibir cadres also shattered at least 25 vehicles and 10 others in Gazipur, Chittagong, Bogra, Joypurhat and Sylhet and Khulna fired and three police officers wounded in a sudden attack in Rangpur.

In Rangpur, Shibir activists attacked officers and a police van smashed. Later, people helped police at least four Jamaat-Shibir activists boarding.

The city residents also torched the Center Shibir-run retina Coaching.

Ji, however, claimed the hartal a success. The party also announced a discussion and prayers are held on February 20 and 21 on the occasion of the international mother language day.