Pro-government workers and professionals from different sectors along with freedom fighters formed a new platform yesterday to resist anarchy and violence, which the BNP-led 20-party alliance has been carrying out in the name of blockade and hartal.
The Sector Commanders Forum separately condemned the ongoing violence and arson attacks and termed the brutality a crime against humanity.
The new platform named Bangladesh Sramik-Karmachari-Peshajibi-Muktijoddha Samannoy Parishad was formed at a meeting among workers, professionals and freedom fighters at the Parliament Members' Club in the capital.
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan was made the convener of the platform. Former chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Abdul Malek Miah and Bangladesh Labour Welfare Foundation General Secretary Kamrul Anam were made member secretaries.
Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation General Secretary Osman Ali, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal Standing Committee member Shirin Akhter and Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Vice-Chairman Ismat Qadir Gama will act as the joint conveners, among others.
The platform at the meeting announced to hold a rally in front at the National Press Club on January 23 and a grand rally on January 30 at the Suhrawardy Udyan as part of its future programmes.
Shajahan Khan, also the executive president of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation, said: “We will hold a series of meetings with different professional bodies, workers and trade unions from January 24 to 28 to chalk out plans to resist BNP-Jamaat violence.
“On the basis of the discussions and after opinions from all, we will announce a bigger programme at our grand rally. Together we will surely succeed in resisting the ongoing violence and anarchy.”
Talking to reporters, the minister announced the platform’s seven-point demands that includes bringing an end to the killing of people in the name of movement, trying the perpetrators, ensuring compensation to families of the deceased and treatment for the injured, and execution of the convicted war criminals.
The minister also urged all to form similar platforms at every district to eliminate militancy and terrorism from the country.
The meeting was attended by leaders of different workers' associations of road transport, water transport, tannery industry, railway, textile industry and construction.
Meanwhile, Sector Commanders Forum yesterday issued a press release expressing concern over the prevailing political violence in the country. The forum said the ongoing brutality was nothing short of crime against humanity.
It also made calls to bring an end to all sorts of violence and to protect the legal democratic rights of every quarter. It asked all to show democratic tolerance.
Violence erupted at different parts of the country when BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on January 5 called a non-stop blockade after she failed to get out from her office.
Just 15 hours later, Khaleda talked briefed reporters and said the ongoing blockade programme will continue until further notice or until the government takes any initiative to resolve the crisis.
Khaleda stated that the crisis was political and should be resolved politically.
Blockade related violence till now has killed at least 27 people with hundreds of vehicles torched, including those of the law enforcement agencies.
