The ‘Ganajagaran Mancha’ will enforce a nationwide blockade of road, rail and water transports from 6pm on Friday to 4pm on Saturday.
The mass protest platform’s spokesperson Imran H Sarker made the announcement from Shahbagh on Thursday evening.
The programme has been called in protest at the long march by radical group Hiafzat-e Islam slated for Saturday.
The platform has captured the imagination of the nation seeking death to war criminals and a ban of Jamaat-e-Islami for its crimes against humanity during the War of Independence in 1971.
Supporters of Hifazat, backed by the Jamaat-e-Islami, are scheduled to head towards Dhaka from Chittagong that day demanding punishment of what they say ‘atheist bloggers’ who allegedly insulted Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (PUBH).
However, police have granted the Hifazat permission to hold their rally at Motijheel amidst widespread criticism.
On Wednesday, 25 organisations including the Sector Commander’s Forum, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee and the Sammilita Sangskritik Jote, called a strike from 6pm Friday to 6pm Saturday to thwart the Hifazat-e Islam’s long march and demanding a ban on politics by Jamaat.
Hifazat and the Islami Oikya Jote retaliated by issuing on Thursday simultaneous but separate threats of a series of nationwide shutdowns if the strike called on the day of their proposed long march was not withdrawn.
Supporters of Hifazat are expected to begin their march to Dhaka after Friday afternoon prayers to push for a six-point charter of demands including the arrest of the ‘atheist’ Ganajagaran Mancha bloggers.
Source: Bd news24
