DHAKA: The first day of the 36-hour hartal, enforced by BNP, is underway in Dhaka and Khulna divisions on Wednesday amid stray incidents of blasts and arson attacks.

Miscreants torched a teachers’ bus of Jagannath University (JnU) parked in front of Shaheed Minar on its campus at 11:45am. University staffs, however, doused the fire immediately.

Banglanews correspondent from Badda reported: Hartal supporters blasted two cocktails in city’s Uttar Badda area around 8:00am.

The party is observing the general strike protesting cases, arrests and demanding release of its leaders and activists.

Banglanews correspondent from Khulna added: Both the supporters of BNP and the ruling AL brought out processions in the city and other parts of the district this morning.

Due to cold weather, poor numbers of commuters came out of houses. Small numbers of vehicles were seen plying in city streets.

Long distance buses have not left terminal for the destinations during the hartal hours.

Train and launch movements remain normal amid schedule collapse.

Besides, countrywide blockade is also underway following the Monday’s directive of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.

On the other hand, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal is observing a 36-hour hartal in Dhaka district and city from Wednesday morning protesting the ‘killing’ of a JCD leader.

JCD called the hartal in protest against the “killing” of Khilgaon Thana Chhatra Dal general secretary Nuruzzaman Zoni.

At least 237 persons, including leaders-activists of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, were detained in seven districts between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.

The districts are Rangpur, Benapole, Chandpur, Satkhira, Bogra, Chittagong, Meherpur and Jessore.

Pre-hartal violence

Six people were injured and a woman sustained burn injury when miscreants torched a passenger bus near Khoirabad bridge on Barisal-Patuakhali road at 1:00am.

BDST: 0815 HRS, JAN 21, 2015/Update 1017, 1420 HRS