The countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal enforced by Hefazat-e-Islam protesting police action on their ‘anti-Modi’ processions in Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts is underway on Sunday.

The Hefazat supporters took position on Basila Bridge in the capital’s Mohammadpur area and blocked the road.

Hefazat activists also brought out a procession in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area in support of the hartal.

A small number of buses, private cars were seen plying the streets.

UNB’s Narayanganj correspondent reports: Some students of Madaninagar Madrasah put barricade on Dhaka-Chittagong highway by burning tires from Sanarpar to Shimrail crossing in the morning, disrupting Dhaka’s road communications with Chattogram and Sylhet.

Chattogram’s road communications with other parts of the country remained suspended since Sunday morning as no long-route bus left Chattogram due to the hartal, reports UNB’s Chattogram correspondent.

Some students of Al Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Madrasah cut roads and created a number of holes on Chattogram-Khagrachhari highway early Sunday, disrupting communications on the road.

Rajib Sharma, officer-in-charge of Hathazari Police Station, the activists of Hefazat-e-Islam on Saturday blocked Chattogram-Khagrachhari road and set fire on Upazila Duckbanglow in the afternoon.

Two motorbikes kept in the storeroom of the Duckbanglow were gutted. Besides, additional police and BGB men have been deployed in Hathazari Bus Stand area.

A small number of rickshaws, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and private vehicles were seen plying the Chattogram city roads.

Additional police, Rab and BGB members were found patrolling in 14 upazilas of the district to avert any untoward incident centering the hartal.

Also read: 2 BRTC buses torched in Rajshahi

Allama Azizul Haque Islamabadi, organizing secretary of the central unit Hefazat-e-Islam, said the hartal is going on peacefully since Sunday morning and the movement of vehicles remained suspended in Chattogram and other parts of the country.

Some activists of Hefazat-e-Islam brought out processions at Bakolia, Halishahar in the city and now they are taking position at different parts of roads, he said.

Besides, a number of processions were brought out in Patiya, Banshkhali and Fatikchharia upazilas in support of the hartal, he added.

In Sylhet, the activists of Hefajat-e-Islam brought out processions in different parts of the city, including the Court point, after Fazr prayers. No long-route buses left the district in the morning.

The movement of rickshaws and auto-rickshaws was seen normal.

Alongside police, officials said, Rab and BGB members and six magistrates are on vigil to maintain law and order in the city.

Also read: Four killed in clashes with cops in Chattogram

SM Abu Farhad, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station, said no incidence of violence was reported until 10 am.

Hefazat-e-Islam announced the day-long countrywide hartal at a press briefing at Purana Paltan in the capital on Friday night.

They also held nationwide demonstrations on Saturday.

A clash involving Hefazat supporters and police left four people dead and at least 15 others injured at Hathazari in Chattogram on Friday.

The clash took place when policed opened fire after a group of protestors attacked Hathazari thana compound and Hathazari land office and set fire to a vehicle.

Also read: Four killed in clashes with cops in Chattogram

In Dhaka, at least 50 people, including several journalists, were injured in a clash between Muslim devotees and police in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area Friday afternoon.

Clashes erupted when police barred people from bringing out a procession after Jum’a prayers protesting the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.