Another spell of 72-hr hartal from tomorrow

The BNP-led 20-party alliance has called a fresh spell of 72-hour countrywide hartal (shutdown) from tomorrow protesting "arrest of BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed".

The shutdown, beginning at 6:00am Sunday, will continue till 6:00am Wednesday, according to a press statement issued by BNP Joint Secretary General Barkatullah Bulu on behalf of the alliance this morning.

The hartal is also meant to protest "forced disappearance, killing, torture, abduction, and arrest of its leaders and activists".

The hartal will be enforced on top of the nonstop blockade that began on January 6.

The BNP-led alliance has enforced a series of general strikes across the country on all working days since February 1.

At least 86 people have been killed so far in the political violence that came up from the start of this year, a year after the January 5 national polls.

The newly made BNP spokesperson urged the government to accept the demands placed by BNP Chief Khaleda Zia yesterday to resolve the ongoing stalemate.

"We demand a dialogue in this regard," he said in the statement.

While addressing the media at her Gulshan-2 office in Dhaka yesterday, Khaleda demanded talks for holding an inclusive election.