Foreigners enjoy ‘hartal’ in Bangladesh!

Health Minister Mohammed Nasim has said a foreigner greeted him ‘Happy Hartal’, prompting him to quip that foreigners enjoy general strikes and blockades in Bangladesh.

He was briefing journalists on the 12th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and Pacific (ICAAP12) that Dhaka will host for the first time on Nov 20-23.

Representatives from the UNAIDS, and Partners in Population and Development (PPD) were present among others at the press briefing held at the Secretariat amid general strikes called by the BNP-led coalition.

The minister said one of the foreigners greeted him, saying ‘Happy Hartal’.

“Foreigners are enjoying hartal in Bangladesh,” he said calling upon the Asia-Pacific countries to come to attend the conference and enjoy Bangladesh in November.

“You can also see how hartal is going on. You can enjoy our hartal,” Nasim added.

He, however, urged the BNP not to call shutdowns or blockades during the conference later this year.