During the morning-evening strike called by Hefazat-e-Islam, the protesters carried out massive violence in the area from Dhaka-Narayanganj signboard area to Kanchpur of Siddhirganj on Dhaka-Chittagong highway.
The capital Dhaka was completely cut off from the eastern part of the country due to road blockade throughout the day. Hefazat leaders and activists clashed with law enforcers on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway from morning to afternoon.
At least 15 people were injured, including six who were shot. Hawkers, Tokai and outsiders also took part in the clashes on behalf of the Hefazat workers.
Meanwhile, after the situation returned to normal in the afternoon, when the law enforcement forces normalized the traffic, the miscreants suddenly set fire to 3 vehicles in a very filmy manner.
The incident took place in Shimrail area of Siddhirganj on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway around 6pm on Sunday. At this time again a frightening atmosphere was created on the whole highway. On the other hand, the leaders and activists of Hefazat could not enter the field due to the strict police position in Narayanganj city.
Police and eyewitnesses said that after the Fajr prayers, traffic on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway at Kanchpur West Slope, Shimrail Crossroads, Uterne, Madaninagar Madrasa, Dashtala Bhaban area, Mouchak, Sanarpar and signboard areas was closed.
Mufti Bashir Ullah, President of Siddhirganj Thana Hefazat-e-Islam, spoke at Shimrail Point around 8 am. Hefazat activists led by Saiful Islam, principal of An Noor Tahfizul Quran Madrasa, took up position in Uterine area.
Hefazat workers later stopped the movement of vehicles on the highway by burning tires, throwing electricity poles and tree trunks. During the strike, RAB and police members tried to remove them from the highway but failed.
At one stage, law enforcers clashed with Hefazat leaders and activists in signboards, Sanarpar, Mouchak, and Stern areas. Police pickets to disperse and fired tear gas.
At this time. At least six people, including Shafiqul Islam (7), Shahadat (35) and Shakil (32), were shot dead. 20 people including police were injured. Hefazat workers along with outsiders including Tokai, Hawker also participated.
Proponents of the strike set fire to three trucks, a microbus and three buses. More than 50 vehicles, including ambulances and media vehicles, were also vandalized. In the afternoon, RAB helicopters were seen hovering in the sky of Dhaka-Chittagong highway several times.
BGB and police armored vehicles and water cannons were patrolling the highway. Police also tried to remove the strike supporters from the signboards and highways in Sanarpar area at 10:30 am. Strike supporters fired on security forces, police fired brickbats.
The clashes took place at several points from the signboard to the Shimrail junction throughout the day. Two of them were rescued and admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
When the BGB, RAB and the police took joint action at around 6 pm, the traffic on the highway started. Later, foreigners supporting the strike suddenly set fire to 1 bus, 1 truck and 1 covered van.
Superintendent of Police Zaidul Alam said they had been stopped from picketing after talking to Hefazat leaders in the city. They had been setting fire to the highway since morning. Later, when the police went and removed them, the traffic on the highway became normal.
He said that when the leaders and activists of Hefazat came down to the ground and started throwing bricks at the police, the police took retaliatory action. However, the Superintendent of Police said that he had received reports of several people being shot in the clash.
