Dhaka: Police arrested 27 leaders and activists of BNP-Jamaat and banned Islamist outfit Hizb-ut Tahrir for ‘sabotage plan’ from different places of Dhaka during a drive continuing for 24 hours till Monday morning.

Deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Masudur Rahman said 17 leaders and activists of BNP, 8 activist of Jamaat and two suspected members of Hizb-ut Tahrir were arrested for planning subversive activities during the second day of the fresh 72-hour nationwide hartal enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance alongside its ongoing countrywide non-stop blockade.

The alliance called the shutdown as part of its movement demanding a snap national election under a non-party administration and ‘resorting democracy and people’s voting right’ and protesting the government’s repressive acts.