BNP-led 20-party alliance yesterday called a 72-hour countrywide hartal from Sunday protesting the threats by leaders of ruling Awami League to blow up BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s office, call to arrest her and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s directives to police to take whatever action necessary to resist its movement .
BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi yesterday announced the non-stop shutdown through a press release just ahead of the SSC examinations set to begin on February 2.
The 20-party alliance is going to enforce the new phase of hartal from 6:00am on Sunday also to protest against firing of shots at residence of BNP standing committee members Dr Abdul Moeen Khan, bomb attacks on the residences of BNP chairperson’s advisers Khondaker Mahbub Hossain, Abdul Awal Mintoo and journalist Shafik Rehman.
The alliance called the hartal also protesting attempted killing of BNP chairperson’s adviser Reaz Rahman with gun shots, setting fire to Sabihuddin’s car, killing 11 opposition leaders and activists during the blockade programme by shooting at them from close range, filing of thousand of cases against opposition leaders and activists and shifting the responsibility of sabotage to the alliance.
The statement said the hartal will be observed till 6:00am on Wednesday as part of the ongoing programme to restore democracy and rights of franchise.
Leaders and activists of the BNP and its alliance as well as the people have been called to observe the hartal programme peacefully and spontaneously.
The alliance called the hartal along with ongoing blockade programme that already passed 25th day yesterday.
Meanwhile, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi in another statement said the blockade programme for indefinite period would continue.
He criticised education minister Nurul Islam Nahid for talking about the fate of 16 lakh of SSC examinees saying that peace and stability would prevail if the government resigns taking the fate of 16 core people into account.
Rizvi said the fate of democracy is under severe pressure and human dignity undermined and government tries to reestablish BAKSAL in the country.
He called upon all to carryout blockade programme peacefully to restore peace, security and dignity of the people.
The joint forces’ target practice cannot stop the ongoing movement, he added. – Staff Reporter
