The countrywide road, rail, waterways blockade will continue, says the BNP.
In a statement on Wednesday, the party’s Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called upon people, ‘on behalf of Khaleda Zia’, to continue the ‘peaceful’ strike.
The 18-Party opposition alliance led by BNP had called the blockade from the first day of the year to thwart the Jan 5 polls.
After the elections on Sunday, BNP chairperson’s adviser Osman Farruq had announced to continue the blockade demanding cancellation of the polls.
The party also called for a 48-hour strike, starting on the eve of the polls. After voting on Sunday, it was extended till Wednesday morning followed by another 12-hour extension till the evening.
File Photo
The statement also announced to hold special prayers on Friday at mosques, temples, churches for those killed during the strike. On Saturday, the 18-Party alliance will hold agitation in all metropolitans, districts and Upazilas.
“The planned attacks on minorities are an attempt to divert attention from the voters’ absence and enthusiastic boycott of the farcical elections amid criticism from national-international organisations,” Mirza Fakhrul said in the statement.
Houses of Hindus have been attacked in different parts of the country following Sunday’s polls. Those who were attacked said it was because they went to vote.
Ruling Awami League leaders has said that the BNP-Jamaat alliance carried out the pre-planned attack.
Mirza Fakhrul rubbished the allegations saying that the members of the ruling party have attacked homes of religious minorities and torched schools and blamed the Opposition for it.
Meanwhile, at media briefing on Wednesday, BNP Standing Committee member Mahbubur Rahman demanded that those involved in the attacks should be brought to justice.
“Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony. Miscreants are out to foil the harmony among the people of different faiths including Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Buddhists.
“Those who have done this can’t have any identity. They are miscreants; they want to spoil our historical communal harmony, instigate communalism,” said the BNP leader.
Source: Bd news24