Nationwide hartal progresses amid blasts

At least three crude bombs went off at Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue in Dhaka this morning as the BNP-led 20-party alliance is observing the first day of the 72-hour nationwide hartal (shutdown).

Pro-hartal activists blasted the bombs near The Daily Star building around 8:15am but none was hurt, said witnesses.

Police could not arrest anyone in connection with the blasts.

Meanwhile, police picked up at least 14 activists of the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and the Hizb ut-Tahrir from different parts of Dhaka on charges of plotting subversive activities in 24 hours till 9:00am today, according to a text message sent by Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

The alliance enforced the hartal from 6:00am today protesting “repression” on its leaders and activists and also demanding fresh parliamentary polls under a neutral government.

The hartal will continue till 6:00am on Wednesday.

Today's SSC and its equivalent exams were deferred to Friday after the alliance yesterday called a fresh spell of hartal amid ongoing nonstop blockade.

Apart from education, the economy is bleeding profusely. The country's top chambers estimate business has incurred a loss of Tk 2,277 crore a day since the blockade started on January 6.