Ehsanul Haque Jasim :The BNP-led 20-party alliance is determined to get a result from the ongoing blockade movement. For this, the movement will be intensified in the coming days. Sources said, the 20-party alliance is now planning to launch ‘Dhaka siege’ programme to force the government to realise its key demand of fresh election under a non-party caretaker government system. The programme is likely to be announced this month.BNP Joint-Secretary General Salahuddin Ahmed, on behalf of the 20-party alliance, in a press statement on Thursday said that all-out movement alongside the blockade would be launched from Sunday if the government refused to accept the demand by the time. The alliance will also hold demonstration in all the upazilas, municipalities, districts and city headquarters tomorrow (Saturday), the statement said. Salahuddin Ahmed said, the demonstration programme also aims at protesting against killing, crippling and injuring of many alliance leaders and activists through crossfire and police firing, mass arrest, interference in the judiciary and controlling media. “You still have adequate time. Please step down, accepting the demand for fresh election under a non-party administration. That will be better for the nation,” he warned. The alliance for the first time announced any such alternative action programme since it enforced the nonstop blockade from January 5.When asked to clarify the ‘all-out movement’, BNP Vice-Chairman Begum Selima Rahman, who has been staying with Khaleda Zia in her office since January 3, said if needed Khaleda Zia would launch ‘Dhaka siege’ programme, because “the BNP chief now wants to intensify the movement in the capital city.” A BNP leader said if there was no response from the government within a short time, Khaleda Zia would announce the programme any day after February 15. The BNP chief won’t retrieve from the stance of tougher movement without any result, he added. BNP standing committee member Lieutenant General (retd) Mahbubur Rahman told The New Nation that the ongoing anti-government movement would get a momentum in the coming days if the government did not accept the demand of the fresh election. Non-stop hartal and some other tougher programmes would follow the blockade if needed, he said. Source said, Khaleda Zia has realized from her January 5 experience that no movement will be successful without mobilizing support in the capital city. That is why she wants to launch ‘Dhaka siege’ programme soon.
