The BNP-led 20-party opposition alliance has called 48-hur nationwide hartal demanding the return of BNP joint secretary general Salahuddin Ahmed.
The announcement of hartal beginning at 6:00am today (Wednesday) was given yesterday through a press statement signed by BNP joint secretary general Barkatullah Bulu.The BNP-led alliance had been enforcing hartals five days in a week since February 1 demanding dialogue to hold a fresh inclusive election under a non-partisan poll, stopping of crossfire deaths of political workers, abduction, enforced disappearances and murders.
This time the hartal has been called for return of untraced BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed.
The alliance will also stage agitation and bring out processions across the country on Thursday to press the same demand. It also called upon the people to pray for Salahuddin after jumma prayer on Friday.
The statement said that former sate minister Salahuddin Ahmed was neither released nor produced before the court even seven days after taking him away by plainclothes law enforcers from his hideout at Uttara.
Similar incidents of taking away of more leaders and activists of BNP have occurred across the country, said the statement.
“His family and party colleagues are deeply concerned as government has denied his arrest and submitted a ‘fabricated story’ before the apex court and derogatory has also been made in this regards from the government high ups,” it added.
The statement said the alliance demanded producing Salahuddin before the court after the arrest if there is any allegation against him but it is not acceptable to show audacity of banishing a senior political leader like Salahuddin.
It accused the government of closing all the ways to protest against ‘misdeeds and state terrorism to prolong the illegal rule, plundering resources and corruption’.
Besides, the government is carrying out false propaganda against the opposition. Thus we have no path but to go ahead with peaceful blockade programme. – Staff Reporter
