Staff Reporter:
The BNP and some like-minded parties and alliances, staged demonstrations and rallies in different areas of the capital on Sunday, in support of their ongoing 48-hour hartal in protest against the schedule for the next national election.
The opposition parties urged the Election Commission (EC) to immediately cancel the schedule for holding a credible and inclusive election.
The leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies brought out sudden processions in differ-ent areas, including Tejgaon, Fakirapool,Jhigatola, Badda, Malibagh, Gulshan, Banani, Green Road, Dhanmondai, Ramna, Mothijheel during the first day of the 48-hour hartal.
As in the previous days since October 29, BNP’s Nayapaltan central office remained locked on Sunday amid the presence of law enforcers on roads on both sides in front of the BNP central of-fice.
Ganatantra Mancha, Jatiyatabadi Somomana Jote, Gono Odhikar Parishad, 12-party alliance LDP, Labour Party, Bangladesh Sadharon Chhatra Odhikar Songrokkhon Parishad, Gonoforum-NPP and Left Democratic Alliance also staged demonstrations and rallies in Bijoynagar, Purana Paltan, Nightingale crossing, Jatiya Press Club and Motijheel areas.
From these processions and rallies, the opposition leaders and activists chanted various slogans against the Election Commission and the government for their ‘attempt’ to hold a lopsided elec-tion.
BNP and other opposition parties, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, enforced the shutdown at 6am across the country.
This is the first hartal being observed by the opposition parties since the EC announced to hold the 12-parliamentary polls on January 7.
