BNP-enforced hartal passes quietly in 3 districts
BNP yesterday observed hartal peacefully in Noakhali, Feni and Laxmipur demanding re-elections to a number of municipalities.
The party's district units enforced dawn-to-dusk hartal in Noakhali and Feni and a half-day hartal in Laxmipur alleging that the ruling Awami League candidates snatched ballot boxes, intimidated voters and assaulted election officials during Tuesday's polls.
Our Noakhali correspondent reports: local BNP leaders and activists brought out processions in the district headquarters. Very few vehicles were seen on streets while most of the shops and business centres remained closed due to the hartal.
Some pro-hartal pickets threw brick chips on a few vehicles on Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Feni. Law enforcers dispersed them before much damage could be done, reports a correspondent from Feni.
Meanwhile, the party's central leaders yesterday cautioned the government that people would soon show the “red card” to oust the government as the nation has already flashed yellow card in the municipality polls.
Addressing the discussion marking the 75th birth anniversary of its founder Ziaur Rahman, the BNP leaders said in the municipality elections the people have voted against the failure of the government.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was present in the discussion as the chief guest but she did not speak.
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the ruling party tried hard to manipulate the polls by driving out the supporters of BNP-backed candidates and threatening the voters.
“But ignoring those people of the country have voted BNP-supported candidates and proved the popularity of the party,” he said.
Another standing committee member of the party Mirza Abbas said, “We need to be united and take to the streets as the people have given us the signal through this poll.”
BNP Vice Chairman Shamsher Mabin Chowdhury presided over the discussion attended by leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies.
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