BNP plans 
non-stop hartal

The BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance last night decided to enforce non-stop hartal or besiege Dhaka from the night of June 15 if the government "adopts any unfair means" in the city corporation polls.
"The people of the four city corporations are waiting to give their verdict against the government. And if the government does anything unfair to alter the voters' verdict, we will go for tougher action, including incessant hartal, Dhaka besiege or sit-in programmes," said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who was presiding over the alliance meeting at her Gulshan office.
"The city polls will be the acid test for the government," a top leader of the alliance quoted Khaleda as saying.
Requesting anonymity, he said, "She [Khaleda] instructed us to remain alert and vigilant to give our party-backed candidates a fair chance."
The BNP chief also advised the alliance leaders not to talk with the media, as what she said, "The media gives exaggerated or sketchy reports on what we say." As an instance, she mentioned reports published in The Daily Star and Ittefaq on a BNP standing committee meeting on June 8.
Yesterday's alliance meeting also discussed about enforcing hartal if the government hinders BNP's rally tomorrow, said meeting sources.
BNP yesterday announced to hold a rally in the capital tomorrow to press home its demands, including restoration of the caretaker government.
The announcement came at a time when the government has not been allowing any party to hold political rallies and meetings in the capital.
On May 19, the home minister said no meeting or demonstration would be allowed for an indefinite period in the capital in order to avert anarchy.
On the other hand, the LGRD minister said the ban had been imposed for a month in the interest of smooth rehabilitation work in the cyclone Mahasen-affected districts.
Against the background of these statements, both the opposition and the ruling alliance leaders were irked as no government order or circular in connection with the ban had been issued.
"The BNP has already sought permission from the DMP authorities to hold the rally in front of its Nayapaltan office [Wednesday] at 3:00 pm," Shamsuzzaman Dudu, adviser to the BNP chairperson, told The Daily Star yesterday.
"We are now waiting for the [govt's] reply," said Dudu, who is also the BNP spokesperson.
The other demands of the party include an unconditional release of its leaders, withdrawal of all cases filed against them and arrest of corrupt individuals in the government.