Shun politics of hartal

"Hartal has no appeal in politics nowadays and it cannot offer anything other than causing miseries to people, disruption in production and severe loss to national life," he said in a statement coinciding with the Awami League convened day-long general strike.

Particularly, he said, low-income people are the worst victims of hartal and "politicians have to understand their miseries."

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"We need to realise it further that when the entire world including our neighbouring countries are progressing fast to attain prosperity and stability, calling of hartals is nothing but a suicidal act as it discourages local and foreign investments and belittle the country in the eyes of the world."

"We would also remind the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament of her pledge as prime minister not to call hartal even if her party goes to opposition," Bhuiyan added.

The BNP secretary general said the incumbent ruling party did not create any obstacle when the opposition lawmakers speaks in parliament "following the Awami League footsteps."

"I therefore call upon them to come to the Jatiya Sangsad and speak out what they want to say," Bhuiyan said adding that with Awami League participation the parliamentary standing committees could have been more effective and contribute to the democratic institutionalisation.

"We think it is the demand of the day as well as of the people that both the ruling and the opposition parties will have to play their due role from their respective positions," he said.