RAJSHAHI: The 36-hour hartal, called by BNP, is underway in eight districts of Rajshahi division along with the nationwide indefinite blockade.

No unexpected incident was reported till 11:30am on Monday, the second day of the shutdown.

Hartal supporters and blockaders could not bring out any procession or picket in the area due to tighter security measures taken by the law enforcers.

Moreover, nine BNP-Jamaat men were held in several police drives during the hartal.

Bus services for long routes were halted though inter-district bus communication was seen normal.

The plying of rickshaw, auto-rickshaw, motorcycle, tempos and other light vehicles was also usual in the hartal-affected areas.

Dhaka-bound ‘Silk City’ and Khulna-bound ‘Kapotakkha’ trains left Rajshahi station following the schedule.

Small business enterprises were open on the day of shutdown.

Additional personnel of police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were seen patrolling the city streets.

Rajshahi Metropolitan Police spokesperson Ifte Khayer Alam, also Detective Branch Assistant Commissioner, said that they are on alert position centering the ongoing hartal, which is being observed in protest against the killing a local Chhatra Dal leader Matiur Rahman.

BDST: 1230 HRS, JAN 19, 2015