People reject Khaleda\\\'s hartal, blockade: Shajahan

KHULNA, Mar 19 (BSS): Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan today said people including businessmen of BNP rejected Khaleda Zia's hartal and non-stop transport blockade across the country.

He urged people including the professional bodies to get united and resist terrorists and petrol bomb throwers.

The Minister was speaking at a view-exchange meeting at the conference room of Khulna Circuit House with the leaders of Bus-Minibus and Truck Owners and Workers Association with a view to resisting anarchy and ensuring safe and smooth movement of vehicles on highways.

Referring to previous political movements led by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Shipping Minister said mass people are not involved in the movement and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's latest call to continue the agitation has no public support.

He expressed the view that BNP-Jamaat agitation is for killing innocent people as well as transport workers. He alleged that blockade along with hartal programme was announced to save war criminals and her (Khaleda) corrupt family members from trial.

The Minister assured that all violence and arson victims in the transport sector during BNP-Jamaat alliance blockade and hartal would be paid compensation.

Chaired by Khulna deputy commissioner Mostofa Kamal, the meeting was addressed, among others, by lawmakers Mizanur Rahman Mizan, Panchanon Biswas, Ismat Kadir Gama, Administrator of Khulna District Council Sheikh Harun-ur-Rashid, ex-lawmaker Molla Zalal Uddin, central leaders of Bangladesh Sarak Federation SM Mujibur Rahman and Osman Ali.