DHAKA: First day of the 72-hour hartal, called by BNP led 20-party alliance, is being marked on Sunday across the country protesting threats by ruling Awami League leaders to arrest BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and uproot her Gulshan political office.

The fresh program of hartal started from 6:00am Sunday and will continue till 6:00am Wednesday.

Security measures have been beefed up at different strategic points of the capital. Additional police as well as BGB member are seen patrolling in the city thoroughfare.

In Feni, pickets torched two trucks and vandalized six auto-rickshaws and four trucks on trunk road and Takia bazaar of the district town around 9:00am.

Besides, law enforcers detained at least 143 people, including 58 leaders-activists of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, in drives at places in capital, Khulna and Satkhira districts apprehending subversive activities during nationwide hartal. 

Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque on Saturday assured guardians of giving overall security to the students of School Secondary Certificate (SSC) equivalent examinations to be scheduled to begin across the country on Monday.

Earlier on Friday, BNP joint secretary general Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed said 20-party called the hartal to protest Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent statements asking police to “do whatever needed to stop the violence” and attacks on the houses and offices of senior BNP leaders.

Besides, in another statement on the day, he also announced that the countrywide blockade will continue during the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations.

BDST: 0750 HRS, FEB 01, 2015