BNP calls hartal, but AL prominent in streets

Though the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami had called an all-day hartal, it was the counter-protest by the Awami League and its affiliate organisations that were more prominent on Dhaka’s streets.

A procession led by Dhaka Metropolitan South Awami League President Abu Ahmed Mannafi started from Bangabandhu Avenue on Sunday morning. It marched to Bangabandhu Avenue after travelling through GPO and Zero Point.

Awami League Presidium members Shajahan Khan and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Organising Secretary Ahmad Hossain, Office Secretary Biplob Barua, and other leaders and activists took part in the procession.

Another procession led by Acting Jubo League President Mainuddin Rana, and Acting Jubo League General Secretary Rezaul Karim Reza marched through the streets in Dhaka.

The BNP called a hartal for Sunday after clashes with police at Kakrail and Bijoynagar marred their antigovernment rally on Saturday.

Though Jamaat-e-Islami did not have prior permission for their rally in Arambagh, the programme ended without major incident. The group’s leaders even thanked the police for allowing them to hold a peaceful event. However, they too called a strike following the violence.

In response to the hartal, the Awami League announced ‘peace rallies’ in districts across the country to counter the hartal.

Some buses were torched on Sunday morning, but there were few BNP and Jamaat activists on the streets.

Meanwhile, top-tier leaders of the Dhaka Metropolitan South Awami League, Krishak League, and Swechchha Sebak League were present at the Awami League central office in Gulistan from 10 am.

The Swechchha Sebak League then initiated a procession at the Zero Point area led by its President Gazi Mezbaul Hossain Sacchu, with many leaders and activists taking part.

The protesters chanted different slogans supporting Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, defying the hartal, and calling for swift punishment of those who attacked police and journalists and torched vehicles.

The Dhaka Metropolitan South Awami League announced it would hold an anti-hartal peace rally near the Awami League central offices at 2:30 pm.