DHAKA: A 72-hour fresh hartal, sponsored by Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led 20-party alliance, has begun across the country since Sunday morning.

The shutdown started 6:00am of the day and is set to continue till 6:00am Wednesday, coupled with a nationwide road-rail-waterway blockade for indefinite period.

Prior to beginning the shutdown, bangalnews correspondents reported several casualties caused by cocktail explosions, petrol bomb attacks by the blockaders in the capital, Feni and Magura.

Earlier on Saturday, BNP Joint Secretary General Barkatullah Bulu, issuing a press statement, announced that the alliance called the shutdown from Sunday to realize their demands including ‘restoration of the people’s rights’.

The statement said, the shutdown was called demanding immediate release of BNP leaders and activists, including party joint secretary Salauddin Ahmed and protesting force disappearance, murder, kidnap, torture and arrest en’ masse across the country.

The alliance, in the statement, urged its leaders-activists and people of the country to observe the nationwide shutdown as well as blockade peacefully.

This is the eighth 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: 0742 HRS, MAR 22, 2015

** Fresh 72-hr hartal from Sunday