The BNP has extended support to its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami’s daylong countrywide shutdown, protesting against arrest of the Islamist party’s top leaders. So far, the shutdown has received lukewarm response with little to no report of violence coming in from the districts. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced his party’s decision at a media briefing at the party’s Naya Paltan headquarters on Thursday, nearly four hours after the shutdown began. “We principally endorse the hartal enforced by Jamaat,” Rizvi said. “There is neither any movement or election, nor any (political) programme now but the government is suddenly arresting leaders of opposition parties to continue oppression and injustice,” he said.

Source: Dhaka Tribune October 12, 2017 09:33 UTC