BNP-led 18-party alliance has called off its Sunday’s nationwide dawn-to-dusk hartal on humanitarian ground as the cyclone Mahasen is feared to hit the coastal regions of the country anytime.
The announcement on Wednesday came hours after the alliance called the stoppage demanding the release of detained BNP leaders and holding of polls under caretaker government. Shamsuzaman Dudu BNP spokesperson made the announcement at a press conference held at the party’s Naya Paltan headquarters in the capital on Wednesday afternoon.
After being denied permission to hold a protest rally today (Wednesday), BNP spokesperson Shamsuzzaman Dudu came up with the hartal programme at a press conference at the party’s Naya Paltan central office.
The 18-party alliance was due to hold a protest rally in front of the party Naya Paltan headquarters on Tuesday afternoon.
The 18-party alliance rally was originally scheduled for Monday at the same place, but it was shifted on Wednesday after being denied permission by the government.
Dudu also adviser to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia said the government had imposed section 144 like embargoes ahead of the Monday’s rally. Now, it has obstructed Wednesday’s rally intentionally, he added.
He wanted to know from the government whether it has banned BNP as a political party and posed a question whether it has made the party’s headquarters a sub-jail.
By doing so the government has established the politics of absolutism instead of democracy in the country, he alleged.
Dudu has criticised Forest Minister Hasan Mahmud for his remarks that Sheikh Hasina will be the chief of the next election time administration.
Dudu thinks such a move is the main barrier on the way of the country’s peace and political stability.
-with The Independent input
