Lukewarm response to shutdown

The day-long shutdown enforced by the BNP-led 20-Party Alliance on Monday received a lukewarm response from the people.

A schoolteacher was killed and at least 50 were arrested during the strike.

In capital Dhaka, a clash took place between police and BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami supporters at Mirpur while a man sustained bullet splinter injury at Pallabi in the morning.

No violence was reported from other areas of the city.

Pallabi Police Station OC Ziauzzaman told bdnews24.com that law enforcers chased away the BNP and Jamaat activists when they had suddenly come onto the street and started vandalising vehicles.

At one stage, they fought with police, he added.

Ziauzzaman said police later charged batons, fired rubber bullets and used other incapacitants to disperse them.

"One person was injured by splinters. He was sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.”

The coalition enforced the strike in protest against denial of permission for BNP’s rally in Gazipur and arrest of its leader including Standing Committee member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy.

Kotwali, Bangshal, Jatrabari, Shahbagh and Adabor police said they saw no procession in support of the shutdown in the areas.

In Noakhali, one female schoolteacher died after being hit by stones hurled by pickets.

Police arrested BNP’s Sylhet metropolitan unit convenor Shahriar Hossain Chowdhury and two Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leaders in the city.

In Rajshahi, activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir clashed with police.