Since this morning the 48-hour countrywide hartal called by the BNP, Jamaat and likeminded opposition parties just began. And to maintain law and order a total of 460 patrol teams of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have been deployed in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country.
Imran Khan, assistant superintendent of police at the RAB headquarters (Media Wing), confirmed this morning. He said, “today, on the first day of the 48-hour hartal, 160 RAB teams were deployed in Dhaka to avoid any untoward incident.”
Imran Khan added, the remaining 300 RAB patrol teams were deployed across the country along with other forces. Since the opposition parties began observing blockade and hartal from the end of last month, members of the elite force have been performing their duties.
On Wednesday Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal has announced the schedule for the 12th parliamentary elections, with the polls set to be held on January 7. After this announcement BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties called a 48-hour countrywide hartal.
Already at least nine vehicles including a commuter train were torched by miscreants from last night till this morning, ahead of the hartal.
