The BNP-led 18-Party alliance has called a nationwide dawn-to-dusk general strike for May 2 to protest the building collapse deaths at Savar and press for arrest of the responsible.
Published : 27 Apr 2013, 05:54 PM
BNP Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed announced the programme while talking to reporters on Saturday night after a meeting of the top leaders of the opposition coalition with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Incidentally, left parties have also called a countrywide strike for the same day demanding the arrest of those responsible for the Savar tragedy which has claimed over 350 lives until now.
Moudud said, “The deaths from the Savar incident have showed the government’s failure and incompetence. That’s why we have declared the fresh programmes including the strike.”
The opposition’s other programmes include observing mourning day on Apr 30 with processions and hoisting black flags everywhere, and a rally of the 18-Party Alliance on May 4 in Dhaka.
Asked about the possible rally venue, Moudud Ahmed said, “We will ask for permission to hold the rally at the Shapla intersection [at Motijheel in the capital]. In case we don’t get the permission to hold the rally there, we will stage it at the Bijaynagar intersection in Kakrail.”
Khaleda Zia met the coalition leaders at 10:45pm at her Gulshan office. She also met the policymakers of her party before that around 9:30pm.
The meetings discussed the current political situation of the country and the Savar tragedy.
“The incident at Savar is not just an accident ... this is a massacre. Local MP Talukdar Mohammad Towhid Jung Murad and local Juba League leader Sohel Rana were involved in this ruthless and cruel incident. We think Rana was able to run away because of direct help from Murad,” Moudud said.
The former Law Minister also demanded their immediate arrest and maximum punishment.
The 18-Party alliance also mourned the deaths and expressed its condolence.
It also demanded that the government provide Tk 2 million each to the family of the deceased and injured in the Rana Plaza collapse.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday night, Moudud also condemned the remarks of Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir, who had said that the opposition activists shook the building down. “We condemn the way the Home Minister spoke about the tragic Savar incident.”