Shimina Akhtar Parul, wife of arrested Palli Bidyut Samity Subscribers Development Association former president Golam Rabbani announced the strike in a meeting on Thursday.

Normal life at the frontier upazila has remained almost paralysed and business at Sona Mosque land port halted for the fifth consecutive day yesterday.

No vehicles including trucks carrying goods could start from the land port, as authorities could not restore the broken culvert at Takshaldighi.

Putting fresh barricades of felled trees on some 9-kilometre road, people in large groups kept vigil at different points while police and administrative officials refrained from removing the barricades, apparently to avert further violence.

Arrest of three power movement leaders on January 22 prompted public demonstrations that faced police atrocities, leading to the death of eight and injury to about 200 people.

Ruling BNP lawmaker Shahjahan Mia, widely blamed for the arrest of three leaders and subsequent police atrocities, went to Shibganj yesterday but did not visit the troubled areas.

The district administration held a meeting with union parishad chairmen and local elite to restrain people from road barricade, Chapainawabganj Deputy Commissioner Nurul Islam said.

"Releasing the arrested depends on court", he said, adding, "We did not go to the troubled areas as we don't want any more confrontation with the people who are still agitating. We want local politicians to act."