Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The BNP-led 18-party alliance has called for a 36-hour shutdown from Wednesday demanding release of its leaders and activists and protesting what it called genocide.
BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the declaration at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan head office in the capital Dhaka on Monday.
He alleged that Sunday’s comment of the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia regarding the role of armed forces has been misrepresented in the print and electronic media.
Fakhrul said: “BNP, as a democratic party, not only dislikes military intervention in the country but strongly opposes it as well.”
Addressing a rally in Bogra on Sunday, opposition leader Khaleda Zia said the army would not play the role of “a silent spectator while people are getting killed” and that it would “play its role in due time”.
 
BBN/SSR/AD-25Mar13-9:35 pm (BST)