DHAKA: Agitated people at places across the country Wednesday enforced hartal, blocked roads and highways and attacked local power offices to press for electricity supply, as outages reportedly disrupted normal life and business.

Naranyanganj: At least 22 people, including six police personnel, were injured in a clash between protestors and police when locals attacked Mandalpara power office in the town in the early hours of the day.

Witnesses said some hundred people staged rally at Baburail, Deubhogh, Boubazar and Bhuiyanpara and gathered in front of the Mandalpara power office.

“At one stage of the demonstrations, agitated people threw brickbats at the office and police that left six police personnel injured,” says a spot account of the melee.

Police fired a dozen teargas shells and 62 bullets for containing the violence that left at least 16 people injured.

Seriously injured Nazrul was sent to Dhaka.   

Duty officer of Narayanganj thana Sharafat Ali said the injured police personnel were sent to different Hospitals of Dhaka and   Narayanganj.

Natore: Agitated people attacked Banpara rural electrification office and blockaded Natore-Pabna highway demanding power.

Rice mills’ owners submitted memoranda to Professor Abdul Quddus MP of Natore-4 and Nasima Khanom, Acting Upazila Nirbahi Officer, with their demand for power to keep their mills rolling.

A mob of protestors barricaded the highway for one hour. Later, the MP rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, reports Natore correspondent.

Chuadanga: Industries and business association of Chuadanga and angry people attacked power office and blockaded the Dhaka-Chuadanga highway demanding power on Wednesday morning.

Police dispersed the demonstrators from the spot.

Later, the leaders of the association submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minster through the Deputy Commissioner with their demand for power.      

Khulna: Local people Wednesday laid a siege to Kazdia complaint centre of the rural electrification samity at around 11:00am.

Officer-in-Charge of Rupsha thana said some agitated people gathered in front of Kazdia complaint centre, but “no untoward situation did happen”.     

Authorities concerned of the centre informed that some agitated people tried to create anarchy, but that did not happen.

Kishoreganj: An all-party hartal was observed in Karimganj upazila in the district. Demonstrators blockaded Kishoreganj-Karimganj road during the strike.      

Leaders-activists of the ruling Awami League and opposition BNP and Jamaat and leaders of the Karimganj business association joined their forces in enforcing the hartal.

They also submitted a memorandum to the premier through Upazila Nirbahi Officer following the hartal.

Laxmipur: Power-hungry people barricaded the Laxmipur-Dhaka highway at Chandraganj demanding power.  

As a result, the road communications of the district with rest of the country, including Dhaka, Chittagong, Comilla and Noakhali, were disrupted for three hours from 10:00am.

Later, local Awami League leaders brought the situation under control and the squatters withdrew from the protest.

BDST: 1940 HRS, AUGUST 11, 2010