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Cops, BNP men attack protest processions

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
At least 15 Awami League (AL) activists were injured yesterday when workers of ruling BNP's labour wing aided by policemen swooped on a procession near Gulistan bus terminal to drum up
support for the dawn-to-dusk hartal today and tomorrow.
The transport workers of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal also beat up six journalists when they were taking snaps of the attack on the AL activists, who were demonstrating against Saturday's terrorist attack
on an AL rally that killed 18 and injured at least 200.
City-dwellers passed another day in anxiety and insecurity with apprehension of fresh terror attack and violence ahead of the hartals.
Classes and examinations remained suspended at educa-
tional institutions across the country barring a few exceptions. Presence at the offices was thin and public lives were hampered as many transport owners kept their vehicles off the roads.
The AL ruled the entire Gulistan area with rally and series of proces-
sions, attended by top leaders Haji Mohammad Selim, Motia Chowdhury and Sohel Taj MP, in a show of protest against the gruesome grenade attacks on AL President Sheikh Hasina.
After the rally in front of the AL SEE PAGE 11 COL 4 FROM PAGE 1
headquarters on Bangabandhu Avenue, several thousand activists paraded through the Zero Point, Purana Paltan Crossing, Dainik Bangla Intersection, Rajuk Avenue, Mahanagar Natya Mancha and Fulbaria Bus Terminal.
Witnesses said AL supporters went berserk at one point, smashing windowpanes of the Jibon Bima Bhaban and damaging some roadside shops along the Moulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium, Rajuk Avenue and Gulistan.
When the procession approached the Gulistan Bus Terminal and the demonstrators attempted to damage parked vehicles, the BNP-backed transport workers, armed with sticks and bricks, pounced on them.
The workers and the police then beat up journalists on duty before bringing out an anti-hartal procession from the area.
GLOOMY CITY, PANICKY DWELLERS
With the memory of Saturday's inci-
dent still fresh, most of the panicky city-dwellers preferred not to come out on the streets and those who braved the fear were desperate to hurry back home.
Police and members of paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles and Armed Police Battalion manned the city points and frisked people on suspicion. Besides, personnel from intelligence agencies kept a tight vigil on different points.
Presence at most non-government offices was unusually thin and most schools, colleges and universities suspended classes and examinations for an indefinite period. A few government schools however held examinations yesterday.
The city was free of traffic jam for a change as the BRTC (Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation) and many transport owners pulled out their buses from the streets yesterday. The BRTC authorities however said their buses would ply today and tomorrow despite the hartal.
Taxicabs, CNG-run three-wheelers, Mishuk and other public vehicles meanwhile made most of the unusual day charging fare much higher than usual.