DHAKA: Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan issued an ultimatum to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to withdraw hartal-blockade within 24-hour.

The minister came up with the forewarning from a rally in Dhaka’s Gulshan-2 circle on Monday afternoon.

Several organizations of workers and professionals, led by the shipping minister, staged a sit-in program near to Gulshan political office of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia demanding withdrawal of hartal-blockade.

Hundreds of people under the banner of Sromik-Kormochari-Peshajibi-Muktijoddha Somonnoy Porishod (SKPMSP) joined the program started at 12:20 noon.

Shahjahan Khan, also the convener of SKPMSP, declared a two-day program. Of these, truck procession will be brought out in capital on Wednesday while flag procession stretching Shaheed Minar to Shapla Chattar and sit-in at Shaheed Minar on Thursday.

He said, “We believe that government will arrest Khaleda Zia soon if she did not withdraw hartal-blockade. If the government did not do so, Sromik-Muktijoddha-Janata will take her to Kashimpur jail.”
 
Earlier, Mohila Awami League, Sromik League, leaders-activists of several workers and professionals’ organizations gathered in front of Wonderland Park in city’s Gulshan area around 10:45am and marched toward Khaleda Zia’s office.

Being obstructed by police, they staged a rally at starting point of Road-86 of Gulshan, where Khaleda's office is located.

The rally was also addressed, among others, by SKPMSP member secretary Shirin Akter MP, also standing committee of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Muktijodha Sangsad Kendriya Council Chairman Morshed Helal, secretary general Abdul Ahad Motin, Dhaka-19 lawmaker Dr Enamur Rahman. 

The second day of the fresh 72-hour nationwide hartal, called by the 20-party alliance alongside its nonstop blockade, is progressing across the country since Monday morning amid stray incidents of violence.

On January 5, Khaleda Zia announced the blockade for indefinite period protesting government’s bar to obverse the ‘democracy killing day’ and her confinement to Gulshan political office.

The country also witnessed a series of shutdowns by the alliances, which were followed by a two-day break only during the weekend.

BDST: 1704 HRS, FEB 16, 2015