Schoolchildren will demonstrate on the school premises in the morning, wearing black badges during the strike. Besides, a mass demonstration will be held at Shaheb Bazar in the afternoon.

Calls for both the hartal and strike came from a citizens' rally at Bhubon Mohon Park yesterday evening.

Presided over by Language Movement hero Abul Hossain, the rally was addressed among others by Rajshahi Nagorik Committee Convenor Golam Arif Tipu, former Rajshahi University vice chancellor Prof Saidur Rahman Khan, journalist Liakat Ali, Mohila Parishad President Kalpona Roy, and Zamat Khan, convenor of Rajshahi Rakkha Sangram Parishad.

The speakers expressed deep concern over police's role. They alleged that police under duress of some ruling party leaders remain 'indifferent' to identifying the killers of Mili.

Mafroza Begum Mili, an 11-year-old student of PN Government High School, was raped and killed at their rented house on May 3. Her father Mansur Rahman Mollah, an instructor of Rajshahi Postal Academy, filed a case accusing three including Fazle Rabbi Rion, son of the landlord.

Police had interrogated the accused, taking them on remand thrice, but said they could not extract information necessary to press charges against them.