Staff Reporter :BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has called upon the leaders and workers of the 20-party alliance and the countrymen to accelerate the on-going countrywide blockade programme. She on Tuesday reiterated her pledge to continue the programme until the demand is met. “Khaleda Zia is committed to continue the blockade until the democracy and the voting rights are established. She asked the leaders and workers of the BNP and the 20-party alliance to carry on the non-stop blockade with full force,” said Mahila Dal vice president Rabeya Siraz.She was talking to reporters after a meeting with the BNP chief at her Gulshan office in the city on Tuesday noon. Rabeya Siraz led an 11-member delegation team of the woman leaders in the meeting. The BNP chief passed 11th consecutive day in her office on Tuesday. She has been confined since January 3 night. Having failed to come out of the office on January 5, she announced the on-going blockade programme for an indefinite period from January 6.Meanwhile, BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday in a statement again said that the 20-party alliance would continue the blockade until the current ‘unrepresentative’ regime quits, paving the way for a fresh and inclusive election. “The main reason of our movement is to save the democracy from the grasp of the current awful misrule. We want to clearly state that the blockade will continue until the removal of the current illegal government,” he said. Rizvi, who is now current spokesman of the BNP, made the party’s stance clear a day after BNP vice chairman Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed’s remark that they might withdraw the ongoing non-stop blockade programme if the government permits them to hold a rally in the city. Hafiz said this while talking to reporters after a meeting with Khaleda Zia on Monday evening. Rizvi claimed that the blockade supporters are working for justice and struggling against the oppressed government aimed at restoring people’s voting rights. He also called upon the leaders and activists of the 20-party alliance to continue the programme till their victory is achieved.He alleged that the ruling party men are carrying out subversive activities but police are filing false cases against the leaders and workers of the BNP and its allies. He warned that the government would not be able to stop their movement by resorting to repressive acts and filing of false cases.The BNP leader further alleged that the ruling party leaders at their Monday’s rally at Suhrawardy Udyan made derogatory comments against Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman. He condemned the ‘offensive’ comments of the ruling party leaders.
