CHITTAGONG. Mar 2: Sporadic bomb blasts, gunshots and clashes marked the hartal today in the port city, leaving at least 10 people injured, witnesses and hospital sources said.

One Didarul Hoque Kazemi. 40. who received bullet in-1 uries this afternoon * in 4aster-pul area under Chandgao tha-na. was admitted in the Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

However, the situation in the port city was relatively calm today while security was tightened by intensifying pa--trol by truck-loads of police and BDR.

The city experienced widespread violence following the arrest of Chittagong City Corporation Mayor and Awami

League leader Mohiuddin Chowdhury on Wednesday last.

After the end of hartal at 6 pm today life slowly returned to normal. Vehicles began plying. shops and markets reopened and port functions resumed.

An-indefinite • hartal was called by the major Opposition parties demanding the release of the CCC mayor. The hartal was later rescheduled U)1 6 pm today.

Hasina Mohiuddin. wife of the Mayor Mohiuddin. met him in the afternoon today at ComiHa Jail, family sources said. They added that preparations were underway to file a writ with the high court challenging his arrest.

Meanwhile, during hartal hours today sporadic clashes, gunshots and bomb blasts were reported from New Market. C& B Colony at Naslrabad. Lalkhan Bazar. Chowmohani. Agrabad, Chawkbazar and Chandgao areas.

At the New Market area a chase and • counter-chase between members of the law enforcing agencies and a mob took place at around 12 noon, witnesses said. Law enforcing agency personnel opened blank fire and lathi charge to disperse the mob, witnesses added. At least 10 people were injured in the clashes.

All types of vehicles, except a few rickshaws, stayed off the roads as pickets were very active at all the important points of the city during the hartal hours today. Businesses were closed and production remained suspended at the mills and factories.

Both public and private of-‘flees could not function and bank transactions were dis rupted.

All activities at Chittagong port also remained suspended during today's hartal, port sources said.

Rallies and processions were broughi out by the opposition parties at various places of the city demanding release of Mayor Mohiuddin.