Educational institutions, however, remained closed but private firms, shops and different business organisations functioned normally open during the hartal hours.

The CPB enforced the hartal from 6:00am to 2:00pm demanding immediate arrest and punishment of those responsible for deaths of workers in Chittagong and Dhaka. The hartal was also enforced in protest at the ongoing power, fuel, fertiliser and seeds crises across the country.

The National Garments Workers Federation (NGWF), a combine of 16 workers' association, also called for a half-day strike in different garments factories of the country yesterday demanding punishment to those responsible for the deaths of workers in KTS Textile and Garments and Phoenix building.

Police arrested eight CPB leaders and workers including General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim near Paltan intersection as a procession led by him was making its way to Muktangan.

The CPB brought out another procession around 6:00am from the party office which paraded Bijoynagar, Dainik Bangla intersection and Paltan areas. Police chased away a CPB procession at Tejgaon around 8:30am.

Police later released Selim and the others. CPB held a rally in front of their central office where Selim and CPB President Manjurul Ahsan Khan spoke.

They said the government neither mourned the death of the workers nor did it take any initiatives to capture the culprits.

They NGWF also brought out processions in different parts of the city and the adjoining areas.

They held a rally in front of BGMEA office in the capital demanding arrest of the owner of KTS garments within 72 hours and compensation of Tk 5 lakh to the family of each of the deceased and Tk 50 thousands each for the injured. They threatened to go for tougher movements if the owners are not arrested within the stipulated time.

The NGWF, at a press conference in CPB office, said they will lay siege to the factory inspector's office on March 9 and submit a memorandum at 11:00am. They will also observe a token hunger strike at city's Muktangan on March 10 from 11:00am to 4:00pm.