BNP calls countrywide hartall on Sunday protesting 'áttack on rally'

Opposition BNP has called a daylong hartal across the country for Sunday .

Opposition BNP has called a daylong hartal across the country for Sunday (October 29) protesting attack on their peaceful grand rally.

The party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced this on Saturday afternoon through hand-mike after suspending the rally.

Police fired rubber bullets, sound grenades and lobbed tear gas shells soon after the opposition party started the rally. Then, the BNP leaders got down from the stage.

A tense situation prevailed at Nayapaltan area amid huge presence of police, RAB, members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the hartal before leaving the rally stage amid clashes between law enforcers and BNP leaders, activists.

He said hartal will be observed from 6 am to 6 pm on Sunday.  

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said they announced the hartal to protest the police and ruling party attacks on their peaceful rally.

Earlier, BNP’s grand rally was suspended halfway through the program following the clashes. 

The rally began around 12:40 pm, and was stopped around 2:15 pm. - UNB