Train services in particular bore brunt of stir as about 77 trains were stopped by the bandh supporters at various places in Bihar, including Patna, a railway official said.
The Rajdhani Express and some other long distance trains were halted by the protesters at Patna Junction and elsewhere in the state, he said.
Bandh supporters also disrupted vehicular traffic on the roads and highways to bring normal life to grinding halt.
The protesters also forced closure of market places at some places. Schools and and colleges too remained closed due to shortage of vehicles on the road.
Judicial works in various courts too were adversely affected by the bandh as the lawyers and employees could not reach their work places due to paucity of vehicles.
In Patna, senior BJP leader Ravishankar Prasad led bicycle march by his party leaders and workers to protest the UPA government's economic policies and later courted arrested near the busy Dak Bungalow roundabout.
In all about 5000 protesters from 26 districts were taken into preventive custody across the state, ADGP (Law and Order) S.K. Bharadwaj said.
There was no no report of any untoward incident from anywhere in the state, he said.
