12-hr break in hartal today

The BNP-led 20-party alliance has relaxed its ongoing hartal for 12 hours from 6:00am today for celebrating the Tigers' historic victory in yesterday's World Cup match. The blockade, however, will continue.

The announcement came hours after Bangladesh secured a berth in the World Cup quarterfinals by knocking out England.

In a press release, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said the shutdown would resume at 6:00pm today and continue till 6:00am Friday.

The opposition combine on Saturday called the 72-hour shutdown from 6:00am Sunday.

It has been enforcing hartal on all working days since February 1 on top of its countrywide indefinite blockade from January 6, demanding a fresh election under a nonparty administration.

The party announced holding victory processions across the country to celebrate the victory but did not give any time.

Despite the announcement, today's scheduled SSC exam, which was postponed, will not take place. The new date will be announced later, said Subodh Chandra Dhali, senior information officer of the education ministry.