Opposition calls 36-hr hartal from Feb 2

The opposition has called a 36-hour countrywide hartal starting at 6 am on February 2 against the government move for enacting the Public Safety Bill, reports UNB.

The liaison committee of the four-party alliance took the decision at a meeting yesterday evening. BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan presided over the meeting. JP secretary general Naziur Rahman Manzur, Jamaat secretary general Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami and IOJ secretary general Mufti Fazlul Huq Aminee attended the meeting held at 29 Minto Road.

Bhuiyan announced the hartal programme at a press briefing saying that they came to know that the Public Safety Bill would be passed in parliament today.

He said the hartal programme was finalised taking into consideration the Biswa Ijtema that will continue till January 31.

The four parties will stage demonstration at divisional and district headquarters on Monday to protest the 'black law' designed to repress political opponents.

The alliance has postponed a mass procession scheduled for February 3.

Condemning the move, the BNP secretary general said the government still has time to withdraw the bill and avert dire consequences.

Maulana Nizami told a reporter that the alliance would withdraw February 2-3 hartal if the government withdraws the Public Safety Bill.

Bhuiyan said all the political parties, human rights organisations and even many in the ruling party are against the proposed law. But it seems the government is adamant in imposing the 'black law' on the people.

He said the government was taking advantage of Biswa Ijtema in moving with the bill quickly when the opposition cannot go for protesting the action. The government's rush for enacting the bill amply manifests its ill motive.

Bhuiyan said the government-backed goons are engaged in extortion, terrorism, looting shops and grabbing tenders.

He said the existing law is enough to check terrorism and maintain law and order if implemented properly and neutrally.

When the existing law is not implemented to deal with criminals, how the government will bring good to the people with the new law, he wondered.

Bhuiyan said commonman seldom dare to file case against the criminals for fear of persecution. Even the police are not allowing people to life cases.

The BNP secretary general said the government is enacting the new law to cling to power and interfere in the judiciary.

Shamsul Islam and Anwar Zahid of BNP, A B M Golam Mostafa of JP, Abdul Kader Molla of Jamaat and A R M Abdul Matin of IOJ were among others who attended the meeting.