RAJSHAHI: The dawn-to-dusk hartal, called by BNP-led 19-party alliance, is underway in four upazilas of the district on Wednesday.

The alliance is enforcing the shutdown in protest against sending BNP leader Abu Sayeed Chand to jail and demand for immediate release of him.

Charghat Thana Officer-in-Charge Golam Mortaza told banglanews, “A clash erupted in Sardah Bazar on Tuesday night following a pro-hartal procession brought out by BNP but the situation is now under control.”

Additional police forces were deployed at various important places to avoid untoward situation, the OC added.

Earlier, following sending the BNP leader’s bail to jail, upazila unit BNP called hartal in Charghat Upazila for Wednesday. Later, the hartal was extended to three other upazilas.

Rajshahi District BNP General Secretary Advocate Kamrul said that the dawn-to-dusk hartal will be observed in Charghat, Bagha, Puthia and Durgapur Upazilas.

BDST: 1137 HRS, FEB 12, 2014