Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-The second phase 48-hour countrywide strike enforced by Jamaat-e-Islami protesting the death penalty awarded to its party chief Motiur Rahman Nizami is progressing across Bangladesh in a relaxed way.
No major incident of violence was reported from any part of the country till 11:00am when this report was updated.
The shutdown began at 6:00am Sunday.
Earlier on October 30, the Jamaat observed the 24-hour strike in first phase on the same ground.
A special tribunal in Bangladesh on October 29 awarded death penalty to Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami for his crimes against humanity that he had committed during the Liberation War of the country in 1971.
The strike actually appeared to have little impact on the daily life of city dwellers in Dhaka.
But, the traffic appeared to be thinner than the usual working days.
Private cars were kept off the streets fearing vandalism.
Rickshaws were seen reigning over the city streets.
No long distance buses left the city’s main terminals or entered.
The train communication is however normal during the hartal hours.
The shutdown virtually halted businesses and hampered education.
All educational institutions remains shut.
Huge contingents of police and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) were deployed at all the key points of the capital to maintain law and order during the strike hours.
BBN/JK/AD-02Nov14-11:00am (BST)