The Awami League-led 14-party alliance has termed the BNP called long-march programme towards the Teesta Barrage as “a stunt.”
Health Minister Mohammad Nasim made the remarks while addressing a press briefing after a meeting of 14-party alliance at the party's Dhanmondi office on Tuesday afternoon.
In the meeting, the ruling party has decided to form three teams in order to visit three divisional districts for organising public opinion against the BNP's “anarchy and conspiracy to foil the war crimes trial and to disrupt democracy in the name of a so called long-march.”
The 14-party alliance will also decided to hold three separate rallies in Khulna, Dhaka and Mymensingh districts respectively on April 26, April 27 and April 28.
He said: “The BNP's long-march programme is not being staged for solving the problem. The move of staging the long-march is nothing but a political stunt. Moreover, BNP is holding a car-march, not a long-march.”
Claiming that BNP activists are frustrated over the central committee's decision of not participating in the January 5 election, he said: “This programme has be called in order to boost the mental strength of the party-men as they are frustrated over the issue of not joining the January 5 poll.”
He said the government also wanted the solution of the issue of Teesta water sharing. “It is a national issue, so it cannot be a political issue.”
The minister urged the BNP to observe the programme peacefully and cooperate with the government.
At the same time, he called upon the government to take tough measures to control any attempt that could affect the normal law and order situation.
The BNP has started its long-march programme towards the Teesta Barrage earlier in the day to press home their demand for proper share of water from neighbouring India.
Earlier on April 16, the party has announced the programme.
