Three-wheeler workers in Barishal have called a strike on November 4 and 5 demanding authorities to allow three wheelers operate on the highway. The strike has coincided with the upcoming rally of BNP while bus owners in the district have announced a similar strike on the same dates. Read more: BNP rally begins defying transport strike in Rangpur Parimal Chandra Das, general secretary of three- wheeler workers union, confirmed the matter to UNB on Sunday. Earlier on October 26, Barishal district bus owners group had threatened to enforce a strike on the same dates. The bus owners said they will enforce the strike on these days if the three-wheelers are not banned from the highways by November 3. Meanwhile, Moniruzzaman Faruk, convener of Barishal City BNP, said bus movement was stopped during the rally in Khulna and Rangpur and only three-wheelers were available. “Now, the three-wheeler workers have also announced their strike before our November 5 rally. The ruling party is engaging all to obstruct people from joining the rally.” But government will fail to prevent BNP activists and the supporters from attending the rally and Barishal will turn into a human sea on November 5, said the BNP leader. A similar strike was also enforced ahead of BNP’s divisional rallies in Rangpur and Khulna, but thousands of party leaders, activists and supporters participated in the rallies overcoming the obstacles. As part of its move to continue the pace of its ongoing movement, the BNP on September 27 announced programmes of a series of public rallies in 10 divisional cities. Read more: Bus owners threaten strike on Nov 4, 5 in Barishal ahead of BNP’s rally The organisers said the rallies are meant to denounce the price hike of daily essentials and fuels, the death of five party men in previous police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, and Jashore, and to ensure the freedom of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. The BNP has long been demanding that the next general election be held under a caretaker government, not under any political government--a demand sharply rejected by the ruling Awami League as the constitution does not allow it to happen. The rally in Barishal  will be the 5th one by the BNP at the divisional level as four others were held in Chattogram, Mymensingh, Khulna and Rangpur.

BNP’s rally began on Tuesday afternoon in the capital demanding that its ‘critically ill’ chairperson Khaleda Zia be allowed to go abroad for advanced treatment. As part of its countrywide programme, the party arranged the rally in front of its Nayapaltan central office. The rally formally began with a recitation from the Holy Quran around 1:15pm. Hundreds of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies gathered in Naypaltan area since morning to join the rally. Also read: People won’t tolerate if Khaleda dies “without treatment”: BNP

Denied permission, BNP has decided to hold its rally in the capital on Sunday instead of today demanding the release of its ailing chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.