The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, on Saturday, issued a stern warning to the government, saying that their partymen would not hesitate in courting arrest, to fulfil the demand for non-party caretaker government. BNP chairperson’s adviser, Shamsuzzaman Dudu, said this at a pre-hartal briefing at the party’s headquarters at Naya Paltan, as the BNP-led 18-Party Alliance is set to enforce yet another daylong hartalacross the country, from 6am on Sunday.
“Our stance is clear that no concession will be given on non-party caretaker government. If necessary, we will take any tougher action, including self-imprisonment in all the 64 districts of the country, to force the government to accept our demand,” he said.
The BNPleader, who announced the shutdown call from the party’s central office on Friday, said the party is willing, if the government wants to hold talks with them on the issue. “Even though we are waging a movement, we are ready for talks,” he added.
The 18 Party Alliance called the hartal protesting the government ban on holding rally and bringing out procession and demanding restoration of the non-party caretaker government, and the release of its arrested leaders and activists.
Announcing the shutdown call, Dudu said the “unofficial ban” on all kinds of demonstrations, including holding rallies and public meeting across the country compelled the opposition alliance to declare the programme.
On May 19, minister for home affairs, MK Alamgir, at a function in Chittagong, announced that the government would not allow any rally or public meeting across the country for the next one month. The announcement triggered a row among in the political arena.
Briefing reporters, Shamsuzzaman Dudu said the opposition would have no objection to sit across the table anywhere anytime if the Prime Minister makes it clear that she wants to hold talks on which topic.
He also alleged that Chhatra Dal’s processions in different areas, including Paltan, Mouchak, Green Road, Motijheel and Dhaka University came under attacks and many leaders and activists were arrested.
Dudu said the 18 Party Alliance would not accept the arrangement made by the government to manipulate the elections. The BNP leader warned that the government would make a mistake if it considers Sunday’s hartal as the last shutdown. Later, he announced a 14-day programme to observe the death anniversary of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.
BNP standing committee member Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah and Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Jamaat leader Rafiqul Islam Khan and other top leaders of alliance partners separately called upon the 18 Party leaders and activists to make the dawn-to-dusk hartal a success.
Three upazilas in Mymensingh district—Trisal, Mymensingh Sadar and Muktagacha were kept out of the preview of hartal to observe the 114th birth anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. BNP general secretary of Mymensingh district (South) unit Abdul Wahab made the announcement from the Nazrul Mancha at Darirampur at Trisalon Saturday.
Meanwhile, strong security measures have been taken to maintain law and order in the city, and elsewhere in the country, during the hartal. Additional law enforcers, comprising police and RAB personnel, were deployed at different strategic points in the city and different parts of the country. Police, on Saturday, arrested around 50 opposition activists from Dhaka and Chittagong, on the eve of the day-long shutdown.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders and activists, on Saturday, brought out separate processions at different parts of the city, including Gulshan, Maghbazar, Paltan, Mouchak, Green Road, and Motijheel, in support of the hartal.
The pro-hartal supporters also vandalised and set some vehicles on fire in different parts of the city, including Maghbazarand Green Road, at noon.
BNP leaders Abdus Salam, Abdul Latif Jony and Shamimur Rahman Shamim, among others, were present at the press briefing.
-With The Independent input
