DHAKA: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Wednesday called a half-day hartal in Manikganj district for Thursday protesting the confinement of party chief Khaleda Zia.

BNP’s district unit will be observe the hartal from 6:00am to 12:00 noon on the day, said a press release signed by Manikganj BNP senior vice-president Moksedur Rahman.

The party called the hartal in protest against the arrest of BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and confinement of the party chief Khaleda Zia to prohibit her from attending the rally of January 5 at the capital, the release added.

Meanwhile, Barisal Chhatra Shibir on Wednesday called half-day hartal in the district protesting the arrest of its city unit president Rahmat Ullah Shihab along with 12 other leader and activists.

District’s east unit president Kausar Ahmed, west unit president Abu Jafar and city unit secretary Imam Hossain and Saqlain Mostaque announced the hartal.

BDST: 1921 HRS, JAN 07, 2015