The businessmen kept their shutters down from 11:00am to 11:15am to protest the November 15 decision of the law and order meeting that withheld operation of the terrorism and extortion resistance action committee (Terac) of the district.

Formed in 2000, Terac became popular among business circle and commoners alike for its efforts at scaling down extortion and terrorism.

But the law and order meeting, chaired by Deputy Minister for Land Ruhul Kuddus Talukhdar, observed that the Terac activities contradict the law of the land as a number of businessmen gather with sticks to resist criminals. Gathering of five or more people with sticks is a crime, the meeting observed.