BNP keeps away from Hifazat strike

The BNP has said it does not support the strike called for Monday by Hifazat-e Islam even though it lent ‘moral support’ to all programmes of the radical outfit before.

“The BNP and the 18-Party alliance have lent their moral support to Hifazat-e Islam’s demands. But we have not said anything about supporting their strike,” Joint Secretary General Salahuddin Ahmed told a press briefing in the afternoon.

“This is Hifazat-e Islam’s strike. They have called it,” he added.

The opposition coalition earlier in the day had declared a 36-hour nationwide general strike from Tuesday demanding release of their top leaders.

Their call came a day after Hifazat, a Jamaat-e-Islami-backed organisation, declared a daylong countrywide strike from Monday to press for a 13-point charter of demand.

It had also held a long march from Chittagong to Dhaka on Friday and a rally at the capital’s Motijheel on Saturday demanding punishment for ‘atheist’ bloggers, who allegedly insulted Islam and Prophet Mohammad.

Hifazat has also announced month-long programmes in April and Dhaka seize programme on May 5.

Some BNP leaders including Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Vice-Chairman Sadeque Hossain Khoka had joined the Hifazat-e Islam's rally in Saturday as a show of solidarity on behalf of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Earlier, BNP had extended its ‘moral support’ to Hifazat’s programmes.