Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – The main opposition BNP has announced countrywide dawn-to-dusk general strike on February 7 in protest against the case filed against its chairperson Khaleda Zia.
The strike was also called to protest “soaring prices of essentials and plundering the share market” as well as to press for the resignation of the incumbent Election Commission.
BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain announced the program from a protest rally at Muktangan in the capital Dhaka on Wednesday.
Announcing the strike program, Mr. Delwar told the prime minister that the soul of her late lamented father will not find peace if the airport is built by killing of and repression on the people.
He said if the government moves ahead with its airport plan, people would protect their fundamental right through movement the way they gained independence in 1971.
Abdul Matin, President of Munshiganj town unit of the ruling Awami League, filed the case on Tuesday accusing about 3,000 unidentified people with Khaleda as the chief accused. He charged the BNP chairperson of instigating Monday’s violence.
A police sub-inspector was killed and about 100 were injured in a series of clashes on the Dhaka-Mawa highway on Monday between the police and people protesting proposed Bangabandhu International Airport on Arial Beel.
BBN/SI/AD-02Feb11-11:59 pm (BST)
