DHAKA: A fresh 72-hour hartal, sponsored by BNP-led 20-party alliance, has started across the country since Sunday morning protesting the arrest of BNP joint secretary general Salauddin Ahmed.

The hartal began at 6:00am of the day and will continue till 6:00am Wednesday, coupled with a nationwide road-rail-waterway blockade for indefinite period.

Earlier, BNP joint secretary general Barkat Ullah Bulu announced the shutdown issuing a press statement on Saturday.

The nationwide shutdown will also enforce demanding an end to forced disappearance, killing, torture and arrest of its leaders and activists.

In the statement, BNP strongly criticized the objectionable remarks made by Awami League joint secretary Mahbub-Ul-Alam Hanif on BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s speech at Friday’s press conference.

Demanding initiative for dialogue to resolve the prevailing crisis, the party claimed that, in 2009, Sheikh Hasina promised to hold a new election dissolving the parliament and Kahleda Zia had just gave a remainder the matter at her press conference.

This is seventh spell of shutdowns, sponsored by the alliance, as the country went through series of hartals for the previous six weeks, which were followed by a two-day break during the weekends only.

In addition to the shutdown, a nationwide blockade is underway for indefinite period since Khaleda Zia has announced the blockade on January 5 protesting government’s bar to obverse the ‘democracy killing day’ and her ‘confinement’ to Gulshan political office.

On that day, ruling Awami League marked the first year of its 5-year tenure since it takes office through January 5 polls, which BNP boycotted.

BDST: 0800 HRS, MAR 15, 2015