The BNP-led 18-party alliance has decided to wage tough street movement protesting the “killing and abduction” of opposition leaders and activists and Abu Bakar Siddique, husband of environment lawyer Syeda Rizwana Hasan.
The alliance had also decided to go for issue-based programmes in the upcoming days, especially those directly related with public sufferings, said an alliance leader.
“We have decided to wage street movement demanding that the [abducted] opposition leaders and activists and Abu Bakar Siddique be traced. Madam [Khaleda Zia] has assigned Mr Fakhrul Islam to devise the strategy of the movement on the issue,” said the leader, seeking anonymity.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia sat with the alliance leaders at a meeting at her Gulshan office last night and discussed the current political situation and their next course of action.
Abdul Latif Nejami, chairman of the Islami Oikyo Jote, said: “The alliance will come up with programmes on issues, including price hike of electricity, and rise of abduction and killing.”
He said although the BNP had alone decided to hold a long march towards the Teesta Barrage, the alliance had extended support to the programme.
Abdul Mobin, chairman of Bangladesh Islamic Party, said at the meeting Khaleda had inquired about the movement strategy and the alliance leaders had expressed their opinions.
Khaleda said the issue-based programmes would continue at the moment; after reorganising the party, a movement to topple the government would be launched. “Our movement has to be successful,” Mobin quoted Khaleda as saying.
He said the meeting had discussed upazila elections and they had agreed that their decision of boycotting the January 5 election had been right.
The alliance leaders advised Khaleda to take part in the party’s long march programme. Khaleda said: “As the announcement was made, Mirza Fakhrul will lead the long-march, and you will cooperate him to make it successful.”
In the meeting, Azharul Islam of NAP (Bhasani) said as Sheikh Anwarul Haque had announced to leave the alliance, he had expelled him and the party would stay in the alliance.
