LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam has said the BNP’s upcoming, anti-government movement will, hopefully, be ‘peaceful’.
There was no reason for people to be afraid, he told reporters at the Secretariat after returning from Eid holidays on Thursday.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, whose party sat out the 10th general election, announced renewed agitations after Eid to press for fresh elections under a ‘neutral government’.
BNP plans to go ahead with its ‘systematic programmes,’ Khaleda told an Eid ceremony on Wednesday.
But ruling the Awami League, which returned to power through the Jan 5 polls, said it would ‘stay on the streets’ to counter the BNP’s plans.
The development caused tension among people, fearing a renewal of street violence.
The BNP-led alliance’s movement to topple the government last year through back-to-back strikes and violent blockades had caused numerous casualties among ordinary people and law enforcers.
“Let them come down to the streets, my Awami League is there. The people are there. We’ll see them on the field,” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had said in a press briefing at Ganabhaban.
“They have the democratic right to hold a movement,” said Ashraf. “But they also said it will be peaceful. I hope they will keep to that.”
As for the Awami League’s plan to meet BNP on the streets, he said, “August 15, the national mourning day, is right after Eid. Our party is busy preparing for it.”
Source: Bd news24
