Staff Correspondent
Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif urged the BNP to respond to the call of United Nations Human Rights Commission to stop the countrywide indefinite blockade agitation programme and violent activities.
He came up with this call while addressing as the chief guest a protest rally, organised by the Dhaka City South Jubo League at Bangabandhu Avenue on Saturday in the capital.
Chaired by Ismail Chowdhury Samrat, the Jubo League unit president, the meeting was also addressed by Dr Syed Modasser Ali, Prime Minister's former health adviser, as special guest.
The rally was organised  to protest the attack on Jubo League Chairman Omar Faruk Chowdhury's residence and office during the blockade.
Hanif said, "As BNP has a soft corner for their foreign friends, so it should withdraw their blockade agitation programme in line with the UN call."
The UNHRC on Friday raised concern over Bangladesh's  political situation and urged all political parties to show restraint and bring an immediate end to violence. "The deepening political violence in Bangladesh, resulting from the failure by the two major political parties to resolve their differences peacefully, is very disturbing," said the UN body statement.
Hanif also called upon the BNP to withdraw its 'so-called' non-stop blockade programme immediately and stop killing people.
Otherwise people of the country would not forgive them, the ruling party leader said.
"Countrymen would pardon BNP in future, if it would stop  killing, arson and anarchy across the country through hurling  petrol bombs," he added.
Asking BNP, Hanif said, "Foreign mentors of BNP would not be able to bring back them into power. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will remain in power as long as people want."
He alleged that BNP has turned into a 'spoiled' political party. If Khaleda Zia wants to retain her party's old image, she should expel her elder son and BNP's Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman from his position as Tarique has become a leader of terrorists.
About the confinement of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, the AL Joint General Secretary said Khaleda is staging a drama of confinement and shifting the burden of blockade on the people.
People don't want to see such drama, Hanif added.
Pointing to the deaths of at least 23 people in inhuman attacks by BNP-Jamaat elements, he said Khaleda and her senior leaders must face trial for the killings.