Today's shutdown comes just after two days' respite since Wednesday's hartal called for the same cause resulting in the post ponement of HSC examinations.

Police yesterday evening clubbed a pre-hartal procession of Awami Jubo League at city's Zero Point area leaving at least 30 Jubo League activists including its chairman Jahangir Kabir Nanok injured.

The 11-party and Jatiya Oikya Mancha--two major allies of the AL--however, did not extend their support in favour of today's hartal.

Earlier, the Jatiya Oikya Mancha at its steering committee meeting held at the Workers' Party office on Thursday had urged the AL to reconsider its decision of enforcing another dawn-to-dusk shutdown considering the plight of the 4 lakh HSC examinees. The meeting also decided not to extend its support in favour of today's hartal.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has postponed today's HSC examinations under seven education boards due to hartal. Dhaka University and National University have also postponed all their examinations scheduled for today.

The AL and its front organisations have made all-out preparations to make today's hartal a success. The AL Dhaka city unit exchanged views with different professional groups and held meetings at different thana and ward units during the last few days.

To drum up support in favour of today's general strike, the AL and its front organisations yesterday brought out processions in the city and many other areas of the country. AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil issued a statement yesterday urging the people to make today's hartal a success.

The government has also taken up measures to maintain law and order during the 12-hour hartal including assigning a joint force of around 5,000 police, BDR and ansar personnel in the capital to contain any untoward incidents.