A half-day nationwide hartal enforced by Left Democratic Alliance (LDA) to protest the soaring prices of edible oil, other essential commodities and utility services is underway peacefully on Monday.

Activists of LDA took position at the key points in the capital in the morning, disrupting vehicular movement in some areas.

However, there was no report of any untoward incident.

Read: LDA to enforce half-day hartal Monday protesting price hike

Hartal supporters brought out processions in the city’s Paltan intersection and held sit-in programmes, halting the vehicular movement from Kakrail to GPO intersection and Press Club to Dainik Bangla intersection.

Left-leaning leaders, students and activists also have kept Shahbagh intersection blocked since morning.

Vehicular movement from Science Lab to Shahbagh, Farmgate to Shahbagh and Press Club to Shahbagh has been halted, causing severe gridlocks that also spread to other parts of the capital, said Assistant Commissioner (Traffic-Shahbagh) Md Nurun Nabi.

A commuter said the blockade in Paltan and Shahbagh areas has create severe traffic jam in other parts of Dhaka, causing sufferings to students and office goers in the morning.

Hartal is underway peacefully in other districts.

In Barishal and Dinajpur, hartal supporters staged demonstrations and held rallies at the major points of the districts from 8 am.

Read:Home Minister warns against violence during Left Alliance's hartal

Law enforcers were deployed at those points to avoid any untoward incident.

UNB Khulna correspondent reports: police detained six hartal supporters from in front of the city's Shishu Park and Diabetes Hospital areas while they were taking preparation for a procession in support of the shutdown.

Hasan Al Mamun, officer-in-charge (OC) of Khulna Sadar Police Station, said some people were detained for disrupting traffic movement. “Steps will be taken against them later.”

The hartal began at 6am and will continue till 12pm.

On March 11, the LDA called the nationwide half-day hartal.