8-hr BNP mass hunger strike today

BNP will stage an eight-hour mass hunger strike programme across the country today (Sunday) to register its protest against the government's repressive acts and 'growing incidents' of extrajudicial killing and abduction, reports UNB.

In the capital, the party would observe the programme on the Jatiya Press Club premises from 9am to 5pm, said BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a press briefing at the BNP's Nayapaltan central office.

He said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia would attend the programme at 4pm.

Rizvi said the mass hunger strike programme was meant for registering their protests against the "government's growing repressive acts like killing opposition leaders and activists, their forced disappearances, filing of false cases against them" and indictment of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman.

He urged the party leaders and activists to make the programme a success by lending their spontaneous support.

Voicing grave concern over the recent spate of killing and abduction, the BNP leader said the enforced disappearance, extrajudicial killing and abduction were being carried out with state patronage. "The ruling party's Chhatra League and Jubo League cadres and government forces are involved in the forced disappearances and abductions."