The countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal enforced by Hefazat-e-Islam protesting police action on their anti-Modi processions in Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts is underway on Sunday.
The Hefazat supporters took position on Basila Bridge in the capital’s Mohammadpur area and blocked the road.
Besides, Hefazat activists also brought out a procession in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area in support of the hartal, reports UNB.
A small number of buses, private cars were seen plying the streets.
Narayanganj correspondent reports: Some students of Madaninagar Madrasha put up barricade on Dhaka-Chittagong highway by burning tires from Sanarpar to Shimrail crossing in the morning, disrupting Dhaka’s road communications with Chattogram and Sylhet.
Chattogram’s road communications with other parts of the country remained suspended since Sunday morning as no long-route bus left Chattogram due to the hartal, reports UNB’s Chattogram correspondent.
Some students of Al Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam madrasha cut roads and created a number of holes on Chattogram-Khagrachhari highway early Sunday, disrupting communications on the road.
Rajib Sharma, officer-in-charge of Hathazari Police Station, the activists of Hefazat-e-Islam on Saturday blocked Chattogram-Khagrachhari road and set fire on Upazila Duckbanglow in the afternoon.
Two motorbikes kept in the storeroom of the Duckbanglow were gutted.
Besides, additional police and BGB men have been deployed in Hathazari Bus Stand area.
A small number of rickshaws, CNG run auto-rickshaws and private vehicles were seen plying the Chattogram city roads.
Additional police, RAB and BGB members were seen patrolling in the 14 upazilas of the district to avert untoward incident centring the hartal.
Allama Azizul Haque Islamabadi, organising secretary of the central unit Hefazat-e-Islam, said the hartal is going on peacefully since Sunday morning and the movement of vehicles remained suspended in Chattogram and other parts of the country.
Some activists of Hefazat-e-Islam brought out processions at Bakolia, Halishahar in the city and now they are taking position on roads, he said.
Besides, a number of processions were brought out in Patiya, Banshkhali and Fatikchharia upazilas in support of hartal, he added.
In Sylhet, the activists of Hefajat-e-Islam brought out processions in different parts of the city including the Court point after Fazr prayers.
No long-route buses left the district in the morning.
The movement of rickshaws and auto-rickshaws was seen as normal.
Besides, alongside police, RAB, BGB members and six magistrates will remain vigil to maintain law and order in the city.
SM Abu Farhad, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station, no incidence of violence was reported until 10 am.
Hefazat-e-Islam announced the day-long countrywide hartal at a press briefing at Purana Paltan in the capital on Friday night.
They also held nationwide demonstrations on Saturday.
A clash involving Hefazat supporters and police left four people dead and at least 15 others injured at Hathazari in Chattogram on Friday.
The clash took place when police opened fire after a group of protestors attacked Hathazari thana compound and Hathazari land office and set fire to a vehicle.
In Dhaka, at least 50 people, including several journalists, were injured in a clash between Muslim devotees and police in the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area Friday afternoon.
Clashes erupted when police barred people from bringing out a procession after Jum’a prayers protesting against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.