The ruling Awami League and its associate bodies staged demonstration in the city yesterday denouncing the countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal (total shutdown) called by Jamaat. Leaders and workers of Awami League (AL) and its associate bodies brought out anti-hartal marches in different localities of the capital. AL central and Dhaka city unit leaders took position at different city points and kept a vigil eye so that the activists of Jamaat-Shibir could not create anarchy in the name of hartal. Since early morning, slogan chanting leaders and workers of AL and its associate bodies took out marches from different city wards and they marched towards party central office at Bangabandhu Avenue.Awami Samarthak Goshthy, an organisation of the supporters of AL, formed a big human-chain in front of AL central office protesting the Jamaat-sponsored hartal. Convener of the organisation Abdul Huq Sabuj presided over the rally there which was also addressed, among others, by Dhaka City AL general secretary and Relief and Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya (Bir Bikram), Food Minister Advocate Quamrul Islam, Dhaka City AL vice-president Mukul Chowdhury and organising secretary Shahe Alam Murad.Speaking at the rally, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya said, “People of the country have rejected with hatred the hartal called for saving the war criminals. All modes of transports including buses and trains have been operating throughout the country.”Advocate Quamrul Islam alleged that BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has been conspiring against the country and its people and that’s why everybody should remain alert against her evil design.Protesting the hartal, Awami Swechchasebak League (ASL) organised rallies and processions at different places in the city. ASL president Advocate Mollah Md Abu Kawser and general secretary Pankaj Debnath led one of the marches that was brought out from Bangabandhu Avenue in the morning. The marchers paraded Syed Nazrul Islam Sarani, Gulistan Square, Nur Hossain Square and Paltan Intersection and rounded up the march in front of party central office.Denouncing the hartal, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote organised a rally, formed a human chain and brought out a march from in front of the National Press Club in the morning. The marchers paraded different city streets.AL leader Advocate Balaram Poddar presided over the rally, also addressed, among others, by Peshajibi Samannaya Parishad secretary general Prof Dr Quamrul Hasan, Swadhinata Shikkhak Samity general secretary Principal Shahjahan Alam Raju and Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote general secretary Arun Sarker Rana.
