Ehsanul Haque Jasim :
Two days after a five-day hartal, the BNP-led 20-party alliance has called a fresh 72-hour countrywide hartal from today (Sunday) morning. The hartal will continue till 6:00 AM on Wednesday alongside the ongoing blockade programme. BNP Joint-Secretary General Salahuddin Ahmed, on behalf of the alliance, in a statement on Saturday announced the hartal programme protesting the ‘conspiracy to deprive BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia of right to food and water’. The hartal was called for fresh election under a non-party government system, restoration of democracy and people’s voting right, and against government’s repressive activities and killing of the leaders and workers of the alliance in the name of crossfire. The five-day hartal of last week began on Sunday and ended on Friday morning. The 20-party observed another five-day hartal in previous week. Meanwhile, the 20-party alliance staged demonstration in the city and other parts of the country on Saturday as part of its ongoing anti-government movement. Leaders and workers of the alliance brought out brief processions at Mogbazar, Jatrabari, Khilgoan and some other parts of the city. The short-time processions were brought out suddenly in the morning. At Shalikha in Jessore, police foiled a procession of Jubo Dal by firing and charging batons. At least three people received bullet injury, while the agitators vandalised the vehicle of OC of Shalikha Thana. A clash also took place between the Jubo Dal men and ruling party men. Alongside with the hartal-blockade, the 20-party alliance is now taking all-out preparation to intensify the movement from next week, as it believes that there is no alternative to escalating the movement to force the government to realise the key demand of fresh election under the non-party government. Sources say that BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is thinking of opting for non-cooperation movement if there is no response from the government. She wants a favourable result from the ongoing movement shortly. She won’t retire from the movement until any result. She, however, did not finalise the decision of the non-cooperation movement. BNP Vice-Chairman Begum Selima Rahman, who has been staying with Khaleda Zia at her office since January 3, said that the party chief would choose the non-cooperation movement or such other alike programme in case the government’s refusal to accept their demands.Earlier on Friday, Salahuddin Ahmed in a statement hinted at launching non-cooperation and ‘law-flouting programme’ very soon. BNP chairperson’s adviser Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain on Saturday told The New Nation that the ongoing movement has now in some sort of relaxed mood. Finally, backed up Salahuddin Ahmed’s view. An alliance leader said, “The announcement of harsher programme may come after the end of the fresh hartal. The hartal may be extended by 48 hours more till Friday morning and if there will have no sign in sight by the time, then the alliance will call for non-cooperation movement or other harsher programme from Sunday next.”Sources said that the Jamaat-Shibir men would remain active if the non-cooperation movement comes in the coming days. Jamaat Dhaka city unit leader Ataur Rahman said that their leaders and workers are taking preparation for non-cooperation movement.
