8-hr hartal Thursday if Fakhrul not freed

In this Monday’s file photo police arrest Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir from Naya Paltan in the capital.

The BNP-led 18-party alliance will enforce a countrywide eight-hour hartal on Thursday if BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is not released by Wednesday.

BNP standing committee member MK Anwar made the announcement at a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office at the end of their Tuesday’s nationwide hartal.

The alliance will also stage protest rallies at district, upazila and municipality levels across the country on Wednesday, said the BNP leader.

Meanwhile, Mirza Fakhrul was sent to jail after being denied bail in two cases filed with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar and Paltan police stations over Sunday’s road blockade.

The court also rejected police’s prayers seeking his remand for 14 days in the two cases.

The BNP leader was arrested Monday evening a day after the cases were filed against him.

Source: The Daily Star