BNP asks AL to cancel hartal

"I was surprised to learn about the hartal from newspaper reports. I don't see any reason behind the move, except the motive of making the Jatiya Sangsad ineffective," said BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan.

Talking to reporters yesterday at his secretariat office, Bhuiyan, who is also the minister for LGRD and cooperatives, said the budget was for the nation, not for any party.

"The budget has great importance, as it will shape the financial destiny of the nation during the next one year. It has nothing to do with party politics," he said. " I hope the AL will withdraw the hartal call and attend the budget session."