BNP alliance to turn blockade into \\\'non-cooperation movement\\\'

The BNP-led 20-party looks firm to continue its ongoing blockade programme for a longer period and turn it into a non-cooperation movement to force the government to come up with a genuine dialogue offer for holding a snap inclusive national election, reports UNB.

Senior leaders of the alliance said they have no other option but to carry out a non-stop movement with tougher programmes as they have reached the point of no return since the government is trying to cling to power for five years "breaching its promise to hold the 11th parliamentary polls within a short time".

BNP leaders said their party chief Khaleda Zia is very optimistic that their ongoing non-stop movement will surely yield quick positive results and she is ready to face any circumstances to make the agitation a success this time.

They, however, said the 20-party will only consider calling off their movement only when the government will announce to sit in talks with the specific agenda of holding snap polls.

Otherwise, the BNP leaders said, they will intensify the movement after the second-phase of Biswa Ijtema, to be concluded on Sunday by adding programmes like nonstop hartal to the ongoing blockade programme and finally turn it into a non-cooperation movement.

"We've given the government one year's time to take steps to hold a fresh election through talks as per its commitment it had given before the 10th parliamentary election. But it did nothing to this end rather resorted to repressive acts to subdue the opposition to secure its power," said BNP standing committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman.

BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said their party chairperson is struck to her stance on carrying out non-stop and tougher movement until their victory comes, no matter how much time it takes.