The BNP-led 18-party alliance has called 48-hour nationwide hartal beginning at 6:00am on Saturday protesting the “confinement” of opposition leader Khaleda Zia at her residence and demanding cancellation of January 5 polls.BNP chairperson’s adviser Dr Osman Faruk announced the programme at a press conference at his Gulshan residence on Friday evening couple of days ahead of the national elections.
The BNP-led 18-party alliance and many opposition parties are boycotting the January 5 polls as their demand to hold it under a non-party government is not met.
Announcing the fresh programme on behalf of the opposition leader, he said the non-stop hartal would run concurrently with the countrywide indefinite blockade programme which has been going on since Wednesday morning.
The BNP leader urged the people to boycott what he said the farcical polls and stay out of the voting.
He also urged the government to refrain from holding January 5election and arrange a free and fair election under a non-party government.
Replying to t question, Osman Faruk said, concerned 18-party leaders in their respective areas were given the responsibility to peacefully
urge the people not to go to the polling centres and cast their votes.
He mentioned that not only the 18-party leaders and activists, masses of people also urged the government to stop the farcical polls.
The BNP leader claimed that the ruling party miscreants had carried out bomb attacks aiming at the residence of opposition leader and termed it as a farfetched conspiracy against the former premier.
He said the security of Khaleda is now under threat and urged the government to ensure her security.
Demanding withdrawal of restriction on the movement of opposition leader, he warned that the government would have to take to take the responsibility if any untoward incidents arisen.
Osman Faruk reiterated the call of Khaleda to say “No” to the lopsided and staged elections and “Yes” to the movement for establishing the democracy.
He said the government wants to create a tainted episode in the history by holding what he said the farcical and lopsided January 5 elections.
“The country is now going towards a deep crisis and uncertainty,” he added.
The BNP leader mentioned that the government whimsically brought amendment to the constitution and now they are deceiving people in the
name of constitutional obligation.
He argued that the constitution is for people but people are not for constitution.
BNP leader Shamimur Rahman Shamim and Asadul Karim Shahin, among others, were p resent on the occasion. – Staff Reporter
