DHAKA: A dawn-to-dusk hartal, called by the local units of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its affiliated organizations, was observed in nine districts on Tuesday.

The districts are Gazipur, Mymensingh, Feni, Noakhali, Sunamganj, Chapainawabganj, Magura, Chuadanga and Bogra.

The strike, starting from 6:00am, continued till 6:00pm on the day amid the BNP-called nationwide indefinite blockade, said banglanews correspondents from respective districts.

However, the hartal was called protesting the confinement of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to her Gulshan office in city and detention of BNP leaders and activists along with cases against the party senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman.

No major violence was reported during the shutdown in the districts.

BDST: 1904 HRS, JAN 13, 2015