Slack hartal underway

A relaxed Jamaat-e-Islami-backed dawn-to-dusk hartal (shutdown) is underway across the country.

The hartal started from 6:00am today – called after the Supreme Court rejected Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed’s review plea against death penalty yesterday.

No picketing was reported in capital Dhaka or anywhere else in the country until 9:45am.

Traffic in Dhaka was found thinner than usual, however, inter-city buses of nearly all routes were seen plying the streets. Privately owned cars were also running.

Private car is seen on the streets in Dhaka during the hartal enforced by Jamaat-e-Islami Thursday throughout the country. Photo: Abida R Chowdhury

Policemen were seen deployed through all key points in the capital.

Shops and establishments through most areas were seen open. The usual rush of office-goers in the morning was almost unchanged.