The countrywide daylong hartal, called by the BNP-led 20-party alliance, is underway on Monday protesting the ‘foiling’ of its scheduled Gazipur rally and demanding the release of its arrested senior leaders.

In Mirpur, four people, including three cops, were injured during a clash between Jubo Dal activists and police in the morning. 

Hartal supporters brought out processions at Khilgaon, Malibagh and Bailey Road areas in the morning. Police arrested four from the procession.

BNP activists brought out a procession in support of the hartal in New Market area. Police foiled the procession around 9:10am and arrested three activists.

Police also detained two in front of BNP's Nayapaltan party office around 9:15am.

Hartal supporters brought out a procession near Azimpur bus stand. Police dispersed the procession and arrested one from the procession.

Pickets exploded a crude bomb at Mohakhali Kancha Bazar around 7am.

Additional law enforcers have been deployed at the key point of the city.

No inter-district bus left the city during the strike.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the fresh shutdown programme on Saturday after an emergency meeting of the secretaries general of the 20-party combine at BNP chief’s Gulshan office.

Fakhrul said the vehicles carrying journalists, food shops, hotels, medicine shops and ambulances will remain out of the purview of the lockdown programme.

Chittagong Lal Dighir Maidan will remain out of the hartal ambit because of Gausul Azam conference there.


TF