The BNP-led alliance called a fresh spell of 72-hour nationwide hartal from this (Sunday) morning while a prolonged non-stop blockade is hitting hard normal life and business.
BNP Joint Secretary-General Barkatullah Bulu made the announcement of general strike in a press release issued Saturday-a day after his party chief, Begum Khaleda Zia, unveiled a set of preconditions for an election dialogue with the government.
Ruling Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam at a party press conference Saturday called upon the BNP chief to create congenial atmosphere for talks.
However, later in the day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ruled out again the possibility of any dialogue with Khaleda Zia.
"The best option for the BNP chief is to surrender to court," a report quoted the PM as saying.
The opposition coalition's call for shutdown came for the 7th week, on the back of the countrywide transport blockade that passed off 68th day.
The hartal will be enforced on 6.0am Sunday and continue till 6am Wednesday in protest against the arrest of BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed and "the killing of opposition members in the name of crossfire, and mass arrests", according to the media release.
Meanwhile, a man who received burns in an explosion while making crude bombs at Khaskandi village in Sadar upazila of Munshiganj Thursday died from his wounds at a hospital in Dhaka city early Saturday.
The deceased was identified as Jewel, 25.
Additional Superintendent of Police of Munshiganj ADM Masud Hossain said, "Jewel succumbed to his injuries around 6:30 am at City Hospital in the capital early this (Saturday) morning."
Calling hartal on behalf of the party chairperson, Khaleda Zia, Bulu called upon the party leaders and activists to observe the programme peacefully.
The BNP-led 20-party Alliance has been enforcing a nonstop nationwide blockade since January 05, in protest against the "confinement" of Khaleda Zia and demanding a fresh election.
Khaleda Zia had been virtually confined to her Gulshan party office since January 03, ahead of a party rally marking 'Democracy Killing Day' on the first anniversary of the January 05, 2014 polls.
Law enforcers continued sweeping action against suspected anarchists and pickets throughout the country amid intermittent acts of violence during the alliance programme.
Police arrested more than 50 BNP-Jamaat activists Saturday, including seven in the capital, as many in Natore, 18 in Meherpur, eight in Rajshahi, six in Bogra, 10 in Gazipur, and five in Narayanganj.
The city had little impact of the blockade Saturday-a weekend holiday. No picketing or demonstration was seen in the day.
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