18-party forms human walls
Top BNP leaders yesterday threatened again to announce tougher programmes if the government fails to meet their demands, including restoration of the caretaker government.
Leaders of the BNP-led 18-party alliance made the threat during a human wall programme in the capital.
BNP coordinator Tariqul Islam yesterday said they were observing the programme peacefully in all district headquarters to press for the demands. “We will be bound to declare tough programmes if those demands are not met.”
Tariqul, also a BNP standing committee member, made the comments while speaking to reporters at Raisaheb Bazar in Old Dhaka.
The programme was earlier scheduled from 11:00am to 12:00pm. In the capital, however, it continued until 2:05pm to coincide with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s appearance in a Dhaka court yesterday.
The human wall stretched along the route that the opposition leader took on her way to the court.
At about 12:00pm, Khaleda Zia left her Gulshan residence and reached the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court at 2:10pm.
Commuters using the route from Mohakhali to the court via Tejgaon, Satrasta, FDC intersection, Moghbazar, Kakrail, Matsya Bhaban, Shikkha Bhaban, Nagar Bhaban, Golap Shah Mazar, Bongshal and Dholai Khal suffered tailbacks for nearly four hours.
One side of the roads where the human wall was formed was heavily congested, particularly at Tejgaon, Satrasta, and Mohakhali and in the court area.
Participants forming the human wall occupied almost half of some roads, causing sufferings to commuters.
The Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the key components of the alliance, took the programme as an opportunity to press home its sole demand for the release of its top leaders facing war crimes trial.
A good number of Jamaat and Shibir leaders joined the human wall with banners, festoons, placards, caps and posters, most of which communicated their demand.
Leaders of the other components of the 18-party alliance were almost absent in the programme.
Source: The Daily Star
