Blockade today, hartal tomorrow

A 24-hour road, rail, and waterway blockade enforced by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is set to begin this (Wednesday) morning.

Senior Joint Secretary-General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday declared a 24 hour blockade and a day-long hartal programmes. Hartal will be observed tomorrow (Thursday).

This protest is in response to the Election Commission's (EC) announcement of the schedule for the upcoming national election.

Previously, the BNP and allied parties initiated a 48-hour countrywide shutdown from November 19, followed by a 48-hour blockade starting November 22. Another phase of the 48-hour blockade commenced on November 26, concluding at 6:00 am on Tuesday.

This series of blockades, totaling seven phases, aims to exert pressure on the ruling Awami League government to resign and conduct the upcoming election under a non-partisan administration.