With Bangladesh nearly coming to a halt due to the continuing violent blockades that ended on Thursday, the opposition alliance headed by Khaleda Zia has called yet another 72-hour blockade from 6:00 a.m. on Saturday.
The announcement of the total blockade came less than a day after the BNP-led alliance threatened with “tougher agitation” unless their demands, which include cancellation of the January 5 poll schedule, formation of a poll-time non-party interim government and release of their arrested leaders, were met in 24 hours. Jatiya Party Chairman H. M Ershad has remained adamant on not joining the polls. As seen by observers, the dramatic decision of Mr. Ershad, a longtime ally of the Sheikh Hasina-led alliance, would complicate the pre-election scenario.
The former military dictator whose Jatiya Party members had submitted their nomination letters, suddenly withdrew from the race on Wednesday.
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As directed by Mr. Ershad, four of Jatiya Party’s Ministers in the ‘all-party’ Cabinet headed by Sheikh Hasina have also handed over their resignation letters to party chief, a day after he asked them to resign.
Mr. Ershad had recently quit the Awami League-led Grand Alliance but allowed his party leaders to be in the poll-time Cabinet.