BD-Mela.com

Dhaka, May19  — BNP chief Khaleda Zia has called for a dawn-to-dusk general strike on June 27 to protest what she calls Awami League misrule.

This will be the first countrywide hartal during the current tenure of the current government since January 2009.

The BNP chairperson made the call on Wednesday at a grand rally in Dhaka to protest the prevailing utilities crisis, tender-grabbing, extortion and demanding resignation of the Election Commission and cancellation of treaties with India.

She also announced a mass sit-in at the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh on June 9 protesting ‘government interference into the judicial system’.

The opposition chief alleged that the government has made the parliament ineffective.

Clearly hinting that she thought it was time for the government to quit, Khaleda said, “An effective parliament can only come through a general election dissolving the present one.”

She criticised the salary hike of prime minister, president and ministers, saying that the people were suffering because of high prices essential commodities.

“Salaries of the ministers and MPs were increased as essentials’ prices are going up,” she said.

“I would not have any objection if people could have three square meals per day.”

Khaleda claimed that the ninth general election under the military-backed caretaker government was not free and fair.

She said, “We participated in the election to remove an ‘illegal’ government which had taken power under the stewardship of the army.”

“But we never had any entente with illegal governments, not even with that of Ershad.”

Without mentioning any name but clearly indicating Hasina, the prime minister, Khaleda said, “One had promised ratification of the emergency government, before going abroad.”

Thus insinuating that Hasina had entered into an illicit alliance with the interim regime, Khaleda said, “She knew that she would come to power.”

The Election Commission (EC), assisted by the caretaker government, tried to break up the BNP, she said.

“(EC) tried to make someone else chairperson of the BNP. They had also selected a secretary general.”

But they failed because of BNP leaders and supporters.

She also said her sons—Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman—were sent to jail to restrain them from waging a movement.

“Tarique was well before going to jail, but his spine was broken because of brutal torture,” she claimed.

Source : bdnews24.com