Barred by police from laying siege to Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office, several pro-Awami League labour organisations yesterday gave the BNP chairperson a two-day ultimatum to lift the ongoing non-stop blockade.
Around 11am, several labour organisations including Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik League, Motor Drivers Sramik League and Bangladesh Garments Workers Coordination Council along with the Muktijuddho Projonmo League, gathered at the Gulshan 2 intersection and tried to march towards Khaleda’s office.
Police however stopped them near the North Road. Then they staged a sit-in at the Gulshan 2 intersection and organised a brief rally.
From the rally, they threatened to go on a hunger strike in front of the National Press Club unless the blockade was lifted.
They also demanded the BNP chief’s arrest for abetting the incidents of violence during the ongoing blockade.
Meanwhile, a group of pro-government workers, professionals and freedom fighters yesterday formed a new platform to resist what they said was the anarchy and violence created by the BNP-Jamaat-led alliance.
The platform titled “‘Bangladesh Sramik-Karmachari-Peshajibi-Muktijoddha Samannoy Parishad” was formed from a rally organised in front of the National Press Club.
The parishad announced that their first major programme will be a rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan on January 30. Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan is the convener of the platform.