The Hindu : International : Opposition stir to oust Khaleda Government from today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 12, 2004

International

International

Opposition stir to oust Khaleda Government from today

By Haroon Habib

DHAKA, SEPT. 11. The main Opposition parties in Bangladesh are planning three weeks of protest rallies and demonstrations from tomorrow to oust the Bangladesh Nationalist Party Government led by Begum Khaleda Zia.

The decision was announced on Friday by 14 parties — the Awami League, 11 Left parties, the JSD and the NAP.

The "one-point oust-Government movement" will include a grand rally in Dhaka, a "mass no-confidence human wall," a march to Parliament, rallies in district headquarters and demonstrations in Dhaka and other cities.

Opposition charge

The Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League had been protesting against the Government following the grenade attack on a party rally in August.

The Opposition parties have alleged that the ruling coalition was responsible for the attack and hindering an impartial probe.

The Awami League general secretary, Abdul Jalil, said the parties which believed in democratic and non-communal politics have joined hands to oust the Government and establish a "secular Government steeped in the spirit of the Liberation War."

The Opposition leaders said: "Our movement is aimed at dislodging the fundamentalists-allied Khaleda Zia Government from power for its failure to deliver and for patronisation of Islamic extremists."

The parties will march to the Jatiya Sangsad tomorrow, the opening day of the 13th session of Parliament and form a 40 km "mass no-confidence human wall" from Tongi to Narayanganj through the capital on September 18.

There will be countrywide protests on September 14 and marches across Bangladesh the next day.

`Human walls'

"Human walls" will be formed at upazilla headquarters on September 19 and at district headquarters on September 20. On September 21, the parties will stage separate demonstrations in Dhaka and other cities. The Awami League will hold a grand rally in Mymensingh on September 22 and another in Sylhet on September 24.

A "grand rally" will be organised at the Paltan Maidan here on October 3 to be attended by Sheikh Hasina and other leaders.

Sources said that the Jatiya Party, led by Gen. H.M. Ershad, the Bikalpa Dhara and the BKSJL are likely to join the programme.

The ruling BNP and its fundamentalist allies at a meeting of the ruling alliance on Friday decided to initiate a `counter-offensive'.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International