DHAKA: The dawn-to-dusk hartal, called by 20-party alliance, is underway across the country on Thursday amid stray incidents of arson attack and blasts along with nationwide blockade.

Activists of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami vandalized and torched vehicles including bus-truck in different district of the country in support of hartal.

On the other hand, law enforcers detained hundreds of leaders-activists of BNP-Jamaat alliance at places in the country to avert sabotage.

Earlier on Tuesday night, preferring anonymity, a senior leader of BNP called countrywide 24-hour hartal for Thursday protesting the attack on Reaz Rahman, an adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and also ex-state minister for foreign affairs.

Later on Wednesday, Bangladesh National Party (BNP) reduced the hartal time by 12-hour, which was earlier 24-hour for Thursday.

In a statement, BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the countrywide hartal will be observed from 6:00am to 6:00pm on Thursday protesting.

 The countrywide blockade will be continued till the victory, the senior BNP leader added.

BDST: 0752 HRS, JAN 15, 2015