The dawn-to-dusk general strike enforced by the Chittagong BNP, protesting the arrest of the party leaders and attack on rallies, is underway peacefully.
The hartal began around 6am and is scheduled to end at 5:30pm on Tuesday.
Vehicular movement is light in the port city. Any unpleasant incident is yet to be reported.
Bonoj Kumar Mojumdar, additional commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) said: “Additional police and BGB personnel have been deployed to avoid untoward situation.”
Some 30 activists got hurt when police dispersed a BNP rally in front of Nosimon Bhaban on Monday morning in Chittagong. Later the police arrested some 250 leaders and activists.
On Monday, BNP chief Khaleda Zia called party men to enforce a countrywide blockade until the government allows the party to hold rallies.
The BNP had announced that it would mark January 5 as one year of 'death of democracy' while the Awami League was set to celebrate 'rebirth of democracy' on the same day.
The Awami League won the national election on Jan 5, 2014 and swept to power, virtually uncontested, as the main opposition BNP had boycotted the polls.
