The BNP-led 20-party alliance has called a countrywide 72-hour hartal beginning from Sunday protesting at the threats by Awami League leaders to arrest Khaleda Zia and blow up her Gulshan office, said a party press release on Friday.

Signed by BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the press release said the alliance would enforce 72-hour strike across the country from Sunday 6:00am.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent statements asking law enforcers to “do whatever needed to stop the violence” and attacks on the residences of BNP leaders were stated to be the reasons behind enforcing the shutdown.

This latest spell of hartal has also been enforced as part of the ongoing blockade and is meant to “regain democracy and right to vote”, said the press release.

All the leaders and activists of the member parties of the alliance have been asked to “observe hartal peacefully and spontaneously”.

BNP-led 20-Alliance has been going with its non-stop blockade programme for 25 days demanding dialogue to hold fresh elections.