Dhaka: Police detained at least 76 leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat-Shibir for ‘sabotage plan’ from different places of the city during a drive continuing for 24 hours till this (Thursday) morning.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) deputy commissioner (media) Masudur Rahman said all of them were held for planning subversive activities during the BNP-led 20-Party Alliance’s countrywide hartal.

Amid the ongoing countrywide non-stop blockade, the alliance on Friday called the 72-hour nationwide hartal from 6:00am on Sunday as part of its movement for restoring democracy and people’s voting right.

As the hartal was scheduled to end at 6:00am Wednesday, the alliance on Tuesday extended it by 36 hours till 6:00pm today.

In a statement, BNP joint secretary general Salahuddin Ahmed, on behalf of the alliance, announced the extended shutdown programme.

Now the shutdown that began at 6:00am Sunday will end at 6:00pm today.