DHAKA Reuter: Bangladesh’s major opposition party called for a general strike on the day of the presidential elections next month and demanded that President Hussain Mohammad Ershad resign.
Leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) at a public rally in Dhakas Baitul Mokarram Square dubbed Ershad “A man of doubtful integrity” who went back on promises.
BNP Chief Begum Khaleda Zia widow of assassinated President Zia ur Rahman said democracy in Bangladesh would not return until Ershad was ousted from power.
“This President is inhuman and unreliable and the country is not safe in his hands” she told an estimated 20000 people.
She said her party was calling the 12hour general strike on October 15 the day the presidential election is due to take place as a protest against Ershad voting without voters.
Ershad and 15 others are running in the presidential poll which has been boycotted by all the main opposition groups.
They said Ershad would send troops to rig voting the way they said he had done in last months by elections where the pro-government Jatiya party won all the Seats.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 26, 1986
