BNP calls hartal in city for Sunday

The main opposition BNP last night called a dawn-to-dusk hartal for Sunday in the capital in protest against splitting the Dhaka City Corporation into two.
BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir informed newsmen about the party's decision at its chairperson's Gulshan office.
The decision came from a meeting of the national standing committee of BNP, with its Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the chair.
The decision of splitting the DCC is autocratic, and it goes against the spirit of constitutional values, Fakhrul said.
He added that the party would hold a protest rally in front of the BNP headquarters at Naya Paltan tomorrow and bring out processions in every ward on Saturday.
BNP leaders RA Gani, Khandakar Mosharaf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed and MK Anwar attended the meeting, among others.
Defying widespread criticism and protests, parliament on Tuesday hurriedly adopted a bill to divide the DCC.
Mirza Fakhrul said the party also decided to support today's hartal in Sylhet city called by local unit of BNP protesting the government's "inaction" to the Indian government's move to construct a dam at Tipaimukh.
Meanwhile, BNP lawmakers yesterday condemned the split of DCC saying it would create severe administrative chaos.
They said disputes and conflicts between the two city corporations may lead to discontent and unrest.
“The government has violated article 59 of the constitution by passing a law to split the Dhaka City Corporation,” said a statement read out by BNP lawmaker Moudud Ahmed on behalf of his party lawmakers at a press briefing at the Jatiya Sangsad Media Centre.
“Our capital has been divided into two through the DCC split. There is no such instance anywhere in the world.”
Moudud, also former law minister, said such an important bill had been passed in the House within only four minutes without any discussion or debate.
The government's decision to split the DCC is nothing but a reflection of its autocratic and unrealistic attitude. It is meant for political gains and goes against people's interests, said the statement.
Water, power and gas crises in the city will worsen due to this move, it said.
Some BNP lawmakers sent proposals to the parliament secretariat, protesting the passage of the bill for DCC split. But they could not raise the proposals during the passage of the bill on Tuesday, as the main opposition continues to boycott the House.