SYLHET: Biswanath upazila unit of BNP and its front organizations, observed half day hartal in the upazila on Tuesday.

 The organizations observed the shutdown demanding initiative to trace out of BNP organizing Secretary Ilias Ali and immediate release of its leaders-activists.

Upazila BNP brought out pro-hartal procession in the morning though nothing untoward happened.

On the other hand, additional police forces were deployed to thwart any untoward situation.

Earlier on August 29, Ilias Mukti Songram Parishad observed dawn-to-dusk hartal in the district on the same demand.

On April 23, 2012 on demand of the trace out of Ilias Ali, BNP observed a hartal. On that day, three people were killed and more than 100 injured in Bishwanath upazila in a clash between police and hartal supporters.

Police then filed a murder case naming 120 including an Upazila Chairman and unnamed 4000-5000 persons.

Recently police arrested 98 BNP leaders and activists in this connection and sent to jail.

BDST: 1557 HRS, SEP 03, 2013
SR/GCP