DHAKA: A 24-hour hartal, sponsored by Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led 20-party alliance, is underway across the country on Thursday.

Began at 6:00am, the shutdown will continue till 6:00am on Friday, coupled with ongoing nationwide blockade for indefinite period.

No acts of sabotages were reported across the country the country Wednesday night

The alliance, however, has kept Dhaka and Chittagong metropolitan cities out of the purview of the shutdown due to city corporation polls.

Earlier, BNP joint secretary general Barkat-ullah Bulu announced the shutdown on Tuesday issuing a press statement.

This is the tenth spell of shutdowns, sponsored by the alliance, as the country has been going through series of shutdowns for the previous eight weeks, which were followed by a two-day break during the weekends only.

As this week saw a day break on Tuesday that made two spells of shutdown in a week. As a result, a total of ten spells of shutdowns were enforced in previous eight weeks.

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: 0735 HRS, MAR 02, 2015