The Dhaka Times Desk The 18-party alliance led by BNP has called a countrywide morning-evening hartal next Sunday, May 19. This hartal has been called in protest against not being allowed to hold a pre-scheduled rally on Wednesday.
This announcement was made at a press conference at the BNP central office in Nayapaltan today at 11 am. Shamsuzzaman Dudu, advisor to BNP Chairperson, made this announcement on behalf of 18 parties. "Police are not allowing the pre-scheduled rally on the pretext of security," he told reporters.
Addressing the Prime Minister, Dudu said, “If one person resigns, there will be no hartal, no movement and no blockade in the country. If the Prime Minister resigns, our meetings will not have to do anything."
Regarding the dialogue, Dudu said, "We saw a glimmer of hope in the initiative of the Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations. We expected dialogue. But we are skeptical about such behavior of the government. They have to make it clear whether they want dialogue or not."
Shamsuzzaman Dudu said, "The activists are either being prevented from entering the BNP office or they are being harassed by various interrogations. I want to know, has it (office) been declared a sub-jail now? I want to know whether the party that was in power seven and a half years ago has been banned? This government established the country as a police state long ago. Now the process of banning all political parties is underway.” He urged the government to be tolerant.
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