Dhaka calm so far during Jamaat strike

The second day of the Jamaat-e-Islami's 48-hours countrywide strike elicited a lukewarm response in Dhaka with police actively breaking up demonstrations in the early hours of Monday.

Police dispersed Jamaat and Islami Chhatra Shibir activists at different areas in the capital when tried taking out surprise processions. Several activists were also detained during the police action.Additional police and Rapid Action Battalion personnel were deployed at different city points including Malibagh, Shantinagar, Rampura, Paltan, Motijheel, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, Tejgaon, Mohakhali and Badda to avoid any untoward situation.

Rickshaws and auto-rickshaws were out in sufficient numbers on the streets of Dhaka since the morning, as during previous shutdowns. Buses and private vehicles were out in greater numbers than on Sunday, during the first day of the strike.

Long-route buses were , however, grounded at the terminals at Gabtoli, Mohakhali and Sayedabad. But all trains left on time from Kamalapur Railway Station, said Station Mater Shakhawat Hossain Khan.

However, security measures have been beefed up on the railway routes after several acts of arson and sabotages targetting trains and tracks over the past few days.