Unseen Comprehension-66 Alim Hartal

Hartal. 

হরতাল।

Hartal is a very common phenomenon to us. We have become used to it. It is political right of the political parties to observe it to compel the government to meet their demands. In British India the political parties observed hartal or 'Bandth' throughout India to express their demands to the ruling British regime. Then, during the Pakistan rule hartal was observed by the people of the then East Pakistan to compel the Pakistani government to meet their demands. During the hartal period, the country becomes lifeless. All means of transport go off the road. Shops and commercial enterprises are closed down. Industries stop their work. There are processions in favours of the hartal on the previous evening. On the hartal day picketers are active on important points. There are chases and counter chases between the rival groups. Attendance in offices are very few. In a word, all hectic activities of the day come to a stand still. The police are deployed on important points throughout the cities or towns. Often clashes take place between the police and the picketers, clashes also take place with the parties supporting the government and the opposition. Deaths also occur as a result of clashes. The economy of the country suffers greatly during hartal. The sufferings of the people know no bounds. Hartals must have a reasonable footing. Concerned parties should apply this right after cool reasoning for the greater welfare of the people but not for narrow selfish political ends.