Day 2 of hartal underway with regular traffic on Dhaka streets

The second day of the countrywide 48-hour hartal, called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties, protesting the general election schedule is underway, reports UNB.

This is the first hartal being observed by the opposition parties since the Election Commission announced the polls schedule.

The ongoing hartal will end at 6 am tomorrow (November 21, 2023).

The presence of public transport on Dhaka roads seems usual this morning despite heightened tension and fear of violence.

BNP, Jamaat and likeminded opposition parties called the hartal after they had earlier observed five countrywide blockades of roads, rail and waterways. The blockades were marked by frequent burning of vehicles, particularly buses, in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country.

The presence of law enforcement personnel at several points in Dhaka is higher this morning compared to the blockades.

The first day of the hartal, yesterday, was marked by sporadic incidents of arson attacks and clashes.

According to reports, ten people were injured in a clash between police and BNP in Sunamganj while a primary school and a number of vehicles including a train were torched yesterday across the country.

A total of 235 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and 460 patrol teams of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)  were deployed in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country to maintain law and order during the hartal.

Earlier on Saturday, BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi called upon people from all walks of life and opposition leaders and activists to observe the hartal peacefully and make it a success.