A daylong hartal called by the BNP to protest the schedule for the next national election is underway in a lax manner.
The BNP called the hartal on the last date for submitting nomination papers to contest the 12th parliamentary polls.
The hartal started at 6am and will end at 6pm on Thursday.
Two covered vans were set on fire in Gazipur.
Despite fear of arson attacks, a number of vehicles including public transport were seen plying Dhaka streets.
Additional forces were performing their duties at all key points of Dhaka.
The shutdown is meant to register opposition parties’ protest against the schedule for the next national election announced by the Election Commission, and to mount pressure on the government to quit, hold the next election under a non-party neutral government and release opposition leaders and activists, including BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Previously, a 24-hour blockade enforced by opposition parties on Wednesday was marked by some arson attacks on vehicles.
Opposition parties have so far observed blockades in eight phases.
