DHAKA: A third day of fresh spell of 72-hour hartal, sponsored by BNP-led 20-party alliance, to realize their demands including ‘restoration of the people’s rights,’ is underway across the country on Tuesday.

Began at 6:00am Sunday, the shutdown is set to end at 6:00am Wednesday, coupled with a nationwide road-rail-waterway blockade for indefinite period.

In city, miscreants set fire to a covered van and a passenger bus at Shahbagh intersection, exploded cocktailed at Sunday night, the second day of the shutdown.

Earlier on Saturday, BNP Joint Secretary General Barkatullah Bulu, issuing a press statement, announced another spell of nationwide shutdown from Sunday.

The statement said, the shutdown was also called demanding immediate release of BNP leaders and activists, including party joint secretary Salahuddin 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: 0715 HRS, MAR 24, 2015