20-Party calls fresh hartal for 48 hours sans Dhaka, Ctg cities

After a three-day break, the BNP-led 20-party alliance yesterday announced a fresh spell of 48-hour nationwide hartal from Monday morning keeping Dhaka and Chittagong cities from out of its purview.
The two main cities—capital city of Dhaka and port city of Chittagong—were kept out of hartal’s purview considering the ensuing city corporation polls there, said BNP joint secretary general Barkatullah Bulu.He announced the programme through press statement on behalf of the alliance.
The alliance, which was giving hartal five days in week since February 1, refrained from enforcing it since Wednesday to mark the Independence and National Day and ahead of the city polls.
The fresh hartal was announced demanding the safe return of all victims of enforced disappearance including BNP joint secretary general Salahuddin Ahmed, who remained untraced for 19 days, release of 20-party leader and activists and holding an inclusive election under a non-partisan government, said the statement
It accused ministers, lawmakers and law enforcers of making derogatory remarks frequently and carrying out false propaganda against movement of people and mass demand after the government came to power “illegally.”
Barkatullah Bulu said there is still time to take initiative to come out of political deadlock and restore normalcy by restoring all democratic rights including freedom of expression.
“Otherwise, the people being imbued with the sprit of war of liberation are prepared to make any sacrifice to realize their demand,” he said. – Staff Reporter