Hartal in Khulna division Thursday

The BNP-led 20-party alliance has called a daylong hartal in 10 districts of Khulna division on Thursday protesting confinement of its chief Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office in Dhaka.

Meanwhile, BNP has decided to enforce a dawn-to-dusk shutdown in Rangpur district on Wednesday on the issue.

The shutdown will be observed in Jessore, Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Narail, Jhenidah, Chuadanga, Meherpur, Kushtia and Magura districts since 6:00am Thursday, said Nazrul Islam Manju, BNP president of Khulna city unit, told the Daily Star.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda was confined to her office since January 3.

Protesting her confinement, Khaleda called an indefinite countrywide blockade which started from January 5.

In Rangpur, three associate bodies of BNP today called a daylong hartal in the district for Wednesday protesting Khaleda’s confinement and arrest of senior leaders of the party.

Rangpur district units of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Juba Dal and Sechchasebak Dal made the announcement this afternoon.

Besides, local units of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal called hartal in Sylhet, Pabna and Rangpur districts for Wednesday and Joypurhat for Thursday protesting the confinement of Khaleda Zia.

The hartal will also be observed protesting arrest of its leaders and government sponsored repression and oppression on them during the ongoing blockade across the country, said a press release issued by Abdus Sattar Patoary, office secretary of the JCD.