Man killed in pickets’ attack

A driver of CNG-run three-wheeler was killed when pickets threw stones at him in Companyganj upazila of Noakhali during the Jamaat-enforced 48-hour countrywide hartal on Wednesday.Police identified the deceased as Abu Naser, 45, son of Abu Taher of Tetua village in Dagonbhuiyan upazila of the district, reports our Noakhali correspondent.The pickets attacked Naser around 9:30am when he reached Talerchhara on Bosurhat-Dagonbhuiyan road with his auto-rickshaw, said Sajidur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Companyganj Police Station.The pro-hartal activists then chased Naser and hurled stones at him that hit on his head, leaving him dead on the spot, the OC added.The incidents of clash and vandalism were also reported from Comilla, Bogra, Natore, Rajshahi and Satkhira during the first day of hartal.Eight police personnel were injured in attacks by pro-hartal activists in Comilla and Satkhira.The Jamaat-Shibir men also torched a truck in Rajshahi and vandalised at least 21 vehicles in Comilla and Satkhira.

COMILLA

Pickets brought out a procession in Kandirpar area of the town around 7:00am and hurled a cocktail targeting a police van.Two police personnel who were inside the van sustained minor injuries, said Mohiuddin Mahmud, OC of Comilla Kotwali Police Station.In another incident, two police constables of Laksham Police Station were injured when Jamaat-Shibir men hurled brick chips targeting a police vehicle on Comilla-Chandpur Highway at Puran Elaka in Laksham around 8:30am, Mohammad Abul Khair, OC of Laksham Police Station.Law enforcers fired 18 rubber bullets to bring the situation under control, the OC said.Besides, at least 11 trucks and covered vans and a microbus were vandalised in Chouddagram and Sadar Dakshin upazilas.Three platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh personnel were deployed in Chouddagram upazila since 6:00am to maintain law and order, BGB sources said.

NATORE

Jamaat activists brought out a procession from Borohorishpur in the town in the morning in favour of the hartal.After parading Natore-Dhaka highway and Chakrampur, the procession returned to Borohorishpur where they set fire pouring kerosene on the highway.Besides, police picked up five activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir, student wing of Jamaat, from Chakbaidyanath of the town and Chanchkoir of Gurudaspur upazila suspecting that they might have carry out subversive activities.

RAJSHAHI

Pro-hartal activists clashed with the law enforcers on Rajshahi-Naogaon highway in the city.Around 40 Jamaat-Shibir men blocked the highway by setting fire to tyres and felling logs around 5:30am.The clash ensued when the law enforcers tried to free the highway.The law enforcers fired at least 30 teargas canisters and rubber bullets to disperse the marauding activists while pickets hurled five crude bombs and brick chips targeting the policemen.No injury was reported during the 15-minute clash.Police nabbed one from the spot in connection with the clash, said Ziaur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Boalia Police Station.Meanwhile, pro-hartal activists set fire to a truck on Rajshahi-Natore highway at Kharkhari bypass in the city around 7:00am.Informed by locals, fire fighters rushed the spot and managed to extinguish the fire. Police nabbed one from the spot.

SATKHIRA

Four policemen were injured as Jamaat-Shibir men hurled brick chips at them during a clash on Satkhira-Jessore highway at Kadamtola in the town.The party men exploded 12 to 15 crude bombs and vandalised nine vehicles during the clash.Police lobbed around five teargas shells and fired 30 rubber bullets to disperse the unruly activists.The clash ensued when around 500 Jamaat-Shibir men resorted to vandalism blocking the highway around 6:30am and were resisted by police, said Md Shahjahan Ali Khan, officer-in-charge of Satkhira Sadar Police Station.Police detained five pickets from the spot after the clash.Jamaat claimed that one of their activists was also injured when police fired rubber bullets.

BOGRA

Pro-hartal activists threw three cocktails targeting police in front of City School on Sherpur road in the town around 7:30am.Police dispersed the activists firing two rubber bullets, said Gaziur Rahman, assistant superintendent of police (Sadar circle).Around 7:40am, pickets exploded two crude bombs at Shatmatha and burnt two tyres on Dhaka-Rangpur highway at Gokul in Sadar upazila.