Confusion over withdrawal of blockade

Confusion was created last night over whether the BNP-led alliance withdrew its nationwide indefinite blockade from today or not after a senior party leader talked to media on the issue.

Talking to The Daily Star, BNP National Standing Committee Member Jamir Uddin Sircar said he did not say anything to reporters about the blockade after coming out of BNP chief's Gulshan residence.

“I just said there was no strike in the country now. We are contesting the polls to three city corporations and bar councils. The party is now concentrating on these elections,” he added.

Sircar along with some other BNP leaders called on Khaleda Zia at her residence. From around 11:15pm onwards, a section of the media quoting Sircar reported that there was no blockade in the country.

But the BNP leader complained that some pro-Awami League journalists twisted his comment.

The blockade, which enters its 99th day today, has fizzled out off late, but the 20-party alliance is yet to put an end to it.

Khaleda on January 5 had announced the blockade after police barred her from coming out of her Gulshan office to attend a rally in front of the Nayapaltan central office of BNP.

The combine also enforced hartals for all working days since February 1 to press home its demands, including holding a midterm election under a non-partisan administration.

The Election Commission on March 18 announced the schedule for Dhaka north, south and Chittagong city corporation polls. The alliance withdrew its hartal programme on April 1, but kept mum on the blockade.

CAMPAIGN DUTY

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia last night assigned party national standing committee members Moudud Ahmed and Hannan Shah the duty of the chief coordinator in the campaigns for the party-backed candidates in Dhaka north and south city corporations, BNP insiders said.

Khaleda conveyed the decision to some party leaders when they called on her at her Gulshan residence.