Police in separate drives detained at least 27 activists and members of BNP and its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami from Dhaka and Khulna for planning subversive activities.

The detentions were made in the past 24 hours ahead of a fresh spell of 72-hour nationwide hartal (strike) sponsored by the BNP-led 20-party alliance that began today.

In Dhaka, police detained 23 BNP-Jamaat activists from different places of metropolitan area in the past 24 hours, said a DMP text floated to media today, without specifying further details.

They included 13 activists of BNP and 10 of Jamaat, the text said.

Meanwhile, police held five leaders and activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir and seized four petrol bombs from their possession in a dormitory of Khulna Alia Madrasa around 2:30am.

On secret information, policed launched a drive on the Madrasa and arrested them with the bombs, said Officer-in-charge of Khulna Kotwali Police Station Sukumar Biswas.

In Chittagong, police seized 10 abandoned petrol bombs from Agrabad CGS Colony and adjacent area early today, said said Tanvir Arafat, assistant deputy commissioner (ADC) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (west zone). Collect from "The daily Star"