The dawn-to-dusk hartal enforced by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) Rangamati district unit protesting attack on Supayan Chakma, general secretary of Sadar upazila unit of BCL, is underway.
Due to the shutdown, all business establishments remained shut down since the morning while public transports, including water vessels, were not plying.
Activists were found with brickbats on a play ground in the southeastern hill district on Tuesday morning. Shops were found closed while roads void of vehicles.
The protesters claim that Chhatra League Rangamati unit’s Assistant Secretary Supayon Chakma came under attacks by Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) activists on Monday.
A group of miscreants swooped on Supayan at Rajbari area of Sadar upazila and stabbed him indiscriminately, leaving him critically injured on Monday evening. Locals then took the injured leader to Rangamati Sadar Hospital.
Following the attack, the BCL and Juba League leaders and activists of the upazila blocked Rangamati-Chittagong road.
Rangamati Superintendent of Police Sayeed Tariqul Hasan told on Tuesday morning that situation in the city was normal with no reports of violence so far.
But at one stage, the clash ensued among police and BCL-Juba League men while the law enforcers tried to drive away them from the road, leaving 15 leaders and activists, including a local journalist, injured.
They later announced the hartal in the district town for Tuesday protesting attack on the BCL leader, reports UNB.
Rangamati unit of the PCP has denied its involvement in the incident.
“We have looked into the matter. The attack stemmed from conflicts over using a playground. PCP is not involved in this,” said President Rintu Chakma.
