The hartal was called for upgrading the port city as the commercial capital, improvement of law and order and selection of Moheshkhali as the site for proposed deep seaport.

The committee yesterday held meetings with a cross section of people and rallies in different parts of the city in support of the hartal.

In a press statement, the committee also called upon all to make the programme a success.

The statement, signed by the committee chairman SM Jamal Uddin, rejected the call of the Chittagong chamber for the withdrawal of the hartal.

The chamber said it would impede the development of Chittagong and cripple the economy of the country.