Lax hartal underway with regular traffic on the streets

The daylong hartal, called by BNP to protest the schedule for the next national election, is underway in a lax manner.

BNP called the hartal on the last date for submitting nomination papers to contest the 12th parliamentary polls.

The hartal started at 6 am and will end at 6 pm today.

Two covered vans were set on fire by miscreants in Gazipur.

Despite fear of arson attacks, a number of vehicles including public transport were seen plying the city streets.

Additional police were seen performing their duties at all key points of Dhaka.

The opposition parties’ shutdown is meant to register their protest against the schedule for the next national election announced by the Election Commission (EC), and to mount pressure on the government to quit, hold the next election under a non-party neutral government and release the opposition leaders and activists, including BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

The 24-hour blockade called by the opposition parties on Wednesday was marked by stray incidents of arson attacks on vehicles.

The opposition parties have so far observed blockades in eight phases.