Withdraw blockade, Hasina urges Khaleda

(L-R) Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged opposition leader Khaleda Zia to withdraw the ongoing blockade programme due to the three-day national mourning to pay respect to South Africa’s anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela.

The premier made the call in a statement today, Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told The Daily Star.

The government is observing a three-day national mourning beginning today to pay homage to Mandela.

The national flag is kept at half-mast at all offices of the government, semi-government and autonomous bodies during the period.

The BNP-led 18-party opposition enforced the fresh 72-hour countrywide blockade from 6:00am today demanding cancellation of the schedule of 10th parliamentary election, restoring caretaker government system and release of party leaders.