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RAJSHAHI, Mar 31: A dawn-to-dusk hartal called by the Awami League and supported by 14-party alliance for reforms in the caretaker system of government and the election commission for a credible national polls was observed peacefully in the city areas while partially at the upazilas of the district today.
There was no report of any untoward incident from any where of the district. Reports from upazilas said, no hartal was observed in Durgapur,Paba and Godagari upazilas and partial hartal observed in other upazilas.
All the government, non-government offices, business establishments, banks and financial institutions remained open at the upazilas while the long route bus services remained disrupted. Even in the city, many road-side shops were kept open. The offices of Rajshahi University were open but no classes and examinations were held. The plying of motor-bikes and rickshaws was almost normal and unhindered in the city throughout the day.
Leaders and activists of 14-party alliance took out a procession at Saheb Bazaar area this noon to drum up support for today's hartal.
The local leaders and activists of BNP and its front organisations yesterday took out a procession and held a protest meeting at Moni Chhattar of Shaheb Bazaar in the afternoon in protest against the hartal. City Mayor Mijanur Rahman Minu, MP attended the meeting as the chief guest with Saleh Uddin Baby, president of Rajshahi city unit of BNP was in the chair.
The meeting was addressed, among others, by Rafiqul Islam Dulal, Lokman Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul and Mahfuzur Rahman Riton.
BDNEWS from Sirajganj reports: At least 10 AL activists were injured when police charged batons on a procession in the morning at Bazar Station square.
Among the injured, district AL organising secretary Belal Hossain and Sadar upazila general secretary Abdus Sattar were admitted to local hospital. Police also picked up an AL activist.
Witnesses said police intercepted the procession at Bazar Station square and charged batons on them as they tried to break police barricade.
Educational institutions remained closed while shopping malls kept their shutters down. Many private offices also remained closed, but activities in the government offices were almost normal.
Reports from Manikganj, Sylhet, Gopalganj and Khulna districts add: Peaceful hartal was observed in the districts. Police arrested two pickets in Gopalganj while pro-and anti-hartal demonstrators paraded streets chanting slogans in Sylhet.
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