DHAKA: The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is staging countrywide demonstrations Sunday against what they say government’s repression on journalists and interference in the run of the mass media.

Earlier, the party high command instructed the leaders and activists of all unions, pourasavas, upazilas and districts to make the demonstration programme a success.

As per its scheduled programme, BNP is holding protest rallies at different points in the capital with top leaders of the party addressing the gatherings.

In Dhaka, BNP held a protest rally at Muktangan in the morning, with Dhaka Mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka in the chair.

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia announced a set of agitation programmes from their Dhaka divisional grand rally held at Paltan Maidan on May 19, as part of their planned anti-government movement.

The programmes include a mass sit-in on June 9 at the Engineers’ Institution in protest against the government’s interference with the judiciary, countrywide demonstrations on June 17 against government “harassment” of journalists and interference in the run of the mass media and a dawn-to-dusk hartal on June 27 to protest gas-electricity-water crises, deterioration of law and order, price hike of essentials, and agreement with India.

Their serial action programme also is spearheaded against India’s Tipaimukh Dam and the unleashing of “torture” on opposition party leaders and workers.

Later, the June 17 date for demonstrations was deferred to June 20th due to the just-held Chittagong City Corporation election.

BDST: 11:40 Hrs, June 20, 2010.
MM/MS/LY/MUA