Hartal on Thursday Dhaka-Ctg out of purview of hartal

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance held off calling a hartal today, the day Higher Secondary Certificate examinations starts across the country, but called 24-hour countrywide shutdown – outside Dhaka and Chittagong city – on Thursday. Meanwhile, the non-stop nationwide blockade on its 85th day and second day of 48-hour hartal on Tuesday passed loosely without any incident of violence reported. Earlier the 48-hour hartal was called from 6:00am on Monday to 6:00am on Wednesday, leaving out Dhaka and Chittagong city. Also on Tuesday, the Alliance declared countrywide protest rally and procession on Wednesday demanding the return of BNP joint secretary general Salah Uddin Ahmed and other opposition leaders and activists across the country who have fallen victim to ‘enforced disappearance’.

The alliance in a statement on Tuesday signed by BNP joint secretary general Barkat Ullah Bulu announced the demonstration and 24-hour general strike, alongside continuation of the blockade. The programmes are also part of its demand for holding general election under a non-party neutral government. The protest rallies and processions will be held at districts, upazilas, thanas, municipalities and thanas of all metropolitan cities across the country. The fresh 24-hour hartal will begin from 6:00 am on Thursday and end at 6:00 am on Friday, the statement, read adding that Dhaka and Chittagong cities would remain out of the purview of the hartal for elections to the divided Dhaka city and Chittagong city corporations slated for April 28. The statement said although others programmes were changed, the countrywide current blockade would continue until further announcement is made by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. The blockade and hartal seemingly did not hamper public life on Tuesday, like in recent days. In the capital, a lot of vehicles plied the roads all day and traffic congestion was seen at places. Shops, markets, educational institutions, private and government offices were open while business houses functioned. Highways and inter-district routes witnessed a good number of vehicles.

Trains were arriving at and leaving from Kamlapur railway station on schedule and ferry services remained unaffected by blockade-hartal. New Age correspondents in Rajshahi, Chittagong, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet divisional cities reported that daily life was normal in the cities. New Age Bogra correspondent reported the leaders and activists of the alliance held rallies and processions at places in the district town on Tuesday in support of the hartal and blockade. The alliance in the statement said the 20-party alliance hopes that the government will be active in holding the imminent three city corporation polls in free, fair, smooth and acceptable manner and the Election Commission will play proper role in returning democratic trend, through demonstrating neutrality. Otherwise, people will be compelled to find other ways to realise their rights. The Alliance statement also expressed deep concern over the stabbing of blogger Oyasiqur Rahman to death in broad daylight at Tejgaon industrial area in the capital on Monday.

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