Dhaka, Dec 20 The shutdown by 'Islamist' parties and likeminded groups against the communists was underway on Thursday amidst tight security -- supported apparently by only four of the 12 parties that initially planned the strike.
Traffic was thin in the morning hours but increased as day prolonged. Outbound bus services from Gabtali, Sayedabad and Mohakhali terminals were grounded, but trains plied normally from Kamalapur station.
Fire service said one pickup van was set on fire at Uttara in capital around 6:30am.
Picketers vandalised two buses at Shawrapara around 10:15am. Police were raiding adjacent alleys to arrest culprits.
They say they nabbed nine Islami Chhatra Shibir activists from Shahbagh, Kataban and Bata Signal areas on charges of attempted arson. Some more were picked up from a pro-strike march at Bijoy Sarani ,according to locals.
Save and except these few incidents, the shutdown was free of trouble.
Police and Rapid Action Battalion were seen deployed at all key points in the capital, especially at Baitul Mukaram.The Madrassas , believed to be stronghold of the Islamist groups, were under tight surveillance
The shutdown is for half a day in Dhaka, but for the whole day elsewhere in Bangladesh.
Eight of the 12 'Islamist' like minded parties backed off from today's strike with a statement saying the decision was not an "unanimous one". The statement was also signed by the convenor of the 12 parties, Muhiuddin Khan.
In the statement, leaders of these the eight parties , however, opposed Tuesday's general strike by the left-leaning parties, who wanted . a ban on 'religion-based politics' .
The leaders who signed the statement are Muhiudduin Khan, '12 Islamic and Likeminded Parties' Joint Convener and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Amir Mohammad Ishaq, Bangladesh Nejam-e-Islam Party President Abdur Rakib and Secretary General Abul Latif Nejami, Bangladesh Muslim League President Nurul Haq Majumder and Secretary General Kazi Abul Khayer, Bhashani Front Chairman Momtaz Chowdhury and General Secretary Md Mizanur Rahman, Bangladesh Islamic Party President Abdul Mobin and Secretary General M A Rashid Pradhan, National Democratic Party (NDP) Chairman Khandker Golam Mortoza and Secretary General Alamgir Majumder and National Awami Party (NAP-Bhashani) Chairman Sheikh Anwarul Haq and Secretary General Hashrat Khan Bhashani.
NDP Secretary General Alamgir told bdnews24.com: "This shutdown has been called without consulting us. In no way are we involved with this strike ."
Immediately after calling the strike, the NAP in a statement, signed by its Office Secretary Md Nurul Aman Chowdhury, on Tuesday said they had nothing to do with the proposed strike.
Now all the parties of the combine other than Khalefat Andolon, Sammilito Olama-Mashayekh Andolon, Ainma Parishad and Jamiyate Ulama Islam have backed out of the strike.
Meanwhile, Khelafat Andolon Office Secretary Sultan Mohiuddin Khan told bdnews24.com that the strike time had been reduced to half a day in Dhaka to allow Thursday's conference of Qaumi Madrasa Education Board.
He said Rangpur would be out of the strike because of the city corporation elections there.
Zafarullah Khan was not available on the phone to give his version about the eight parties' position.
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