Human chain protest planned against Khaleda-Pakistan

The ruling 14-party alliance, led by Awami League, will form a human chain in the city on February 15 as part of a campaign against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia for her controversial remarks about the number of 1971 Liberation War martyrs.

 

The human chain protest is also meant to protest against Pakistan’s interference in Bangladesh’s internal politics amid growing discontent between the two countries, reports UNB.

 

Awami League presidium member and 14-party spokesman Mohammad Nasim announced the program in a press briefing after a meeting of the alliance on Sunday.

 

In reference to the recent diplomatic spat between Bangladesh and Pakistan, Nasim, also the health and family planning minister, said he hoped Pakistan “would come to its senses”.

 

‘We hope that Pakistan will try to keep (good) relations with us. Otherwise we have to think whether we will maintain diplomatic ties with Pakistan,” he said.

 

Nasim, a member of Parliament from Sirajganj, also said that he had requested foreign ministry to raise the issue in SAARC forum.

 

Pakistan last year officially questioned the ongoing war crimes trial, especially over the execution of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury in November.

 

Bangladesh strongly protested the move and warned Pakistan not to attempt to interfere in domestic issues.

 

On December 21, Khaleda at a discussion in Dhaka raised questions about the official figure of 3 million martyrs, triggering an uproar in the country.

 

Her remarks also prompted Supreme Court lawyer Momtaz Uddin Ahmed Mehedi to file a sedition case against her.