Kolkata: The 12-hour Bangla Bandh called by the Bengal BJP is aimed at raising awareness about alleged police action against students protesting the rape and murder of a doctor at R G Kar Medical College in Kolkata. The BJP’s general strike follows the graphic visuals that emerged from the Nabanna Abhijaan rally that was dispersed by the state police using lathi charge, water cannons and more.
Are banks closed for Bangla Bandh?
It is unclear whether banks will remain open during Bangla Bandh on Wednesday, August 27, 2024. However, the BJP has urged businesses to remain closed on Wednesday in solidarity with the Bangla Bandh. Since this is an Opposition-led protest, none of the public services are expected to remain closed on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, the ET reported.
What else is open?
Public utilities are unlikely to be affected by the Bangla Bandh. However, there may be some traffic disruption since the bandh has been called during the working hours of the day. The following services are likely to function as usual:
Railways
Metro
Bus
Auto
Cabs
Schools
Colleges
Hospitals
Since 2011, the West Bengal state government has followed a standard operating procedure in which no bandh is tolerated. State government offices will remain open on Wednesday. The state government has also ordered that transport services remain open on Wednesday.
BJP state president cited the “autocratic regime” in West Bengal turning a deaf ear to the people’s voices as the reason behind giving a call for Bengal Bandh. The West Bengal Police is turning on “peace-loving people of the state” he said.
The bandh follows a police lathi-charge on the Nabanna Abhijan rally called in Kolkata in which the participants were marching upon the state secretariat. Water cannons and teargas were used to disperse the marchers belonging to the Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj and Sangram Joutha Mancha.
Bangla Bandh on 28 August: While BJP has called a citywide bandh to raise awareness around police action against students protesting for justice in the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case, it is unclear whether banks and utilities will remain closed on Wednesday. Biz News Business News – Personal Finance News, Share Market News, BSE/NSE News, Stock Exchange News Today
