Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - The countrywide dawn-to-dusk general strike called by eight Islamist parties is progressing almost peacefully Sunday morning.
The Islamist parties called the strike protesting what they said attacks on their Friday’s demonstrations, and also demanding punishment to ‘atheist’ bloggers.
No major untoward incident was reported till 9:30am.
A few minor untoward incidents were reported during the hartal hours in the capital city Dhaka.
Though many buses including BRTC service and other vehicles defied the strike, number of private cars was thin.
The rickshaws like other strike, generally known as hartal, were seen reigning over the city thoroughfares, according to reports.
The roadside shopkeepers however kept the shutters of their shops down fearing vandalism.
Huge contingents of police and Rapid Action Battalion personnel were deployed at all the key city points to maintain law and order during the hartal hours.
Led by Khelafat Andolon, eight Islamic party, most of which are less know party and components in the BNP-led 18-party alliance, called the hartal protesting police and ruling party men attack on their activists during their Friday’s protest rally at different parts of the country.
The other components are: Jomiyate Ulamaye Islam, Khelafate Islam, Faraezi Andolon, Ulama Committee, Khelafat Majlish, Nejami Islami and Islami Oikya Jote.
Four people were killed and over 1,000 injured as activists of several Islamic parties, protesting ‘anti-Islam’ campaign by ‘some Shahbagh bloggers’, clashed with law enforcers at different parts of the country on Friday.Meanwhile, the main opposition BNP on Saturday extended support to the countrywide shutdown.
Jamaat-e-Islami, BNP's key ally in the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance, Friday night gave support to the hartal.
BBN/SSR/AD-24Feb13-11:20 am (BST)