The BNP-led 20-party alliance has declared to enforce a 36-hour general
strike in Chittagong Division from Tuesday morning, protesting the
confinement of BNP chief Khaleda Zia.
BNP Chittagong city unit President Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury issued a
written statement in this regard on Monday afternoon.
According to the statement, the 20-party alliance has called the hartal
in protest against the confinement of the coalition chief Khaleda Zia,
arrests of the leaders and activists of the alliance and filing of
“false cases” against them.
The shut down will be enforced from 6am on Tuesday and it will continue
till 6pm on Wednesday.
The programme has been called as per the directive of the central
committee, said the statement.
The BNP-led 20-party has been observing nationwide non-stop roads and
waterways blockade since January 5, protesting the confinement of Khaleda
Zia.
The current blockade has been marked by violence and sporadic clashes
between the police and protesters, leaving a number of people killed and
injured.
Khaleda had been kept confined to her Gulshan party office since January
3 ahead of a party rally scheduled to be held on January 5, marking the
“Democracy Killing Day.”
All the barricades in front of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan
office have been removed early Monday.
No sand-laden trucks, iron barricades or water cannon were seen in front
of the party office, where Khaleda is staying for 15 days.
Additional police were also withdrawn from the office of the former
premier.
Our Correspondent saw no such barricades at around 2:30am on Monday.
However, no confirmation of the police were made whether it was removed
permanently or temporarily.
The party chief is still staying inside the office.
Political tensions between the Awami League-led Government and the BNP-led
20-party alliance have been increased in January 2015 on the first
anniversary of the January 5, 2014 parliamentary elections, which the BNP
boycotted.
– See more at: http://www.dhakatribune.com/politics/2015/jan/19/36-hr-
hartal-called-chittagong#sthash.od5w4cMz.dpuf
