Hannan Shah arrested

Police have arrested senior BNP leader ASM Hannan Shah minutes before the Opposition called for a 48-hour nationwide blockade protesting against the schedule of the general election.

The BNP Standing Committee member was picked up from Dhaka’s Baridhara around 9pm on Monday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman told bdnews24.com.

Hannan Shah has been taken to the detective police’s headquarters at Minto Road, he added.

The police official did not divulge further details.

The Chief Election Commissioner in an evening televised speech said the national election will be held on Jan 5 next year.

The BNP-led Opposition had threatened to ‘cripple’ Bangladesh after the declaration of polls schedule.

Strike in Gazipur Thursday