The nationwide half-day general strike that started with peaceful demonstrations on Monday morning was marred by sporadic incidents of clashes and violence between the police and protesters in Dhaka and Narayanganj.
The Baam Gonotantrik Morcha (Left Democratic Alliance) and like-minded parties and organizations had called the shutdown over the rising prices of utility services and daily commodities, demanding a rationing system for all
In the morning, the traffic situation was normal in most parts of the capital.
As the day went on, leaders and activists of the alliance took positions in different areas of the capital, including Purana Paltan, Press Club, Mirpur, Mohammadpur and Shahbagh.
Pragatishil Chhatra Jote and Chhatra Union activists took out processions from the TSC and, chanting slogans, gathered at Shahbag.
From 8am onwards, hartal supporters blocked the Paltan intersection and demonstrated peacefully.
However, at around 11:30am, clashes broke out between the protesters and police when a procession of the Chhatra Union reached there. In a bid to disperse the crowd, police let water cannons loose and sprayed teargas as activists threw back brickbats at them.
Police detained 20 protesters from the scene, said Zonayed Saki, chief coordinator of Gonosonghoti Andolon.
He also claimed that at least 50 people were injured during the clashes.
In Narayanganj, at least 20 demonstrators were injured as police wielded batons on a procession in Chashara at around 8am.
Mashiur Rahman Richard, organizing secretary of the Naryanganj unit of Bangladesh Students Federation, alleged that police had repeatedly attacked the demonstrators to disperse the procession.
In Khulna, police detained six people for trying to create chaos on the highway, Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Hasan Al Namun claimed.
The leaders and activists of the Left Democratic Alliance and other organizations were preparing to hold a rally when the law enforcers stormed the place in riot gear and dispersed the crowd.
In Chittagong, hartal supporters peacefully protested through sit-ins, discussion meetings and demonstrations across the city.
The number of vehicles on the road was fewer than usual. However, there were no reports of violence in the port city.
In Barisal, the half-day general strike was observed peacefully with no reports of violence coming in.
The hartal, called to protest the price hike of food items such as edible oil, rice, pulses and onions across the country, was partially but peacefully observed in Barisal.
In Mymensingh, the half-day strike was observed in easy manner, with long-distance vehicles along with local ones plying the roads. Markets and other shops of the city were open.
Hartal activists were not seen anywhere in the city in support of the program.
There was less traffic on important roads of the city, except for emergency services, since the morning. Businesses opened late and there was lower attendance at offices and courts during the strike than on other days, reports our correspondent.
Protest program declared
In protest against the attacks and detention of its activists by law enforcers, the alliance has called nationwide demonstrations for Tuesday.
Members and activists of the alliance will take out a procession at Dhaka's Paltan intersection at 4pm, LDA Coordinator Saiful Haque told the media.
The Communist Party of Bangladesh described the hartal as successful, as general people had participated in the program.
Before enforcing the hartal, the leftist parties and organizations as well as the BNP and its allies staged a series of rallies and processions across the country separately, accusing government supporters of market manipulation throughout March, ahead of Ramadan.
