Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-The BNP-led 20-party alliances have called a 36-hours strike in Bangladesh from Sunday protesting the price hike of electricity and arrest of their party leaders and activists.
Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint general secretary of BNP, made the announcement through a press release Saturday.
Bangladesh has been experiencing a non-stop blockade coupled with frequent strikes since January 5 demanding a fresh election.
“The strike will start from 6:00am Sunday and will continue till 6:00pm Monday,” says the press released.
The alliances also protest the confinement of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her party Gulshan office and arrest of party leaders and activists.
Khaleda called the blockade after she was barred from coming out of her Gulshan office.
BNP said its party chief was “confined” but the government denied the allegation though it had put additional law enforcers and sand-laden trucks in front of Khaleda’s office.
The government however removed the security barriers after 16 days on January 19.
So far, at least 37 people, mostly innocent, were killed and dozens including law enforcers injured in the mindless act of arson and petrol bomb attacks across the country during the blockade and strike.
Hundreds of vehicles were also torched and vandalised during the political agitation.
BBN/AS/AD-24Jan15-1:40pm (BST)