The BNP-led 18-party alliance on Monday called countrywide shutdowns for Wednesday and Thursday protesting the killing of unarmed Alems (Islamic scholars) in a crackdown on Hefazat-e-Islam’s sit-in at Shapla Chattar, at the heart of city’s commercial district Motijheel.
BNP Standing Committee member Dr Khandker Mosharraf Hossain announced the hartal programme after a meeting of the 18-party alliance with Khaleda Zia in the chair, held at her Gulshan office in the evening, UNB reported.
Khandker Mosharraf said the alliance will hold gayebana namaz-e-janaza across the country, including capital Dhaka, on Tuesday for those killed in the crackdown early Monday.
He said the namaz-e-janaza in Dhaka will be held in front of BNP’s Naya Paltan central office after Asr prayers.
Denouncing the government for the brutal crackdown, Mosharraf said the BNP will come up with a statement in this regard tomorrow (Tuesday). “We have no word to condemn such an inhuman incident,” he added.