Bangladesh opposition points finger at ruling party men for bomb attacks

Bangladesh opposition has pointed finger at Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL) party men for carrying out petrol bomb attacks.

Ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party ( BNP) Spokesman Salahuddin Ahmed in a statement on Thursday said this is nothing but a trick of AL to divert people's attention from the opposition's movement to unseat Hasina government which is hatching conspiracy to brand BNP a terrorist and militant political party.

By doing so, he said AL is trying to get international favor to cling to power.

He said the opposition will go for another round of strike from Sunday alongside with its the ongoing blockade that entered 38th day on Thursday unless its demand for a fresh general election is fulfilled.

Khaleda Zia's 20-party sponsored ongoing strike which was enforced Sunday morning will be concluded on Friday morning.

In the statement Ahmed criticized Hasina for her remarks in parliament Wednesday that the BNP would be banned if necessary.

Hasina Wednesday in her parliament speech brushed aside calls for a dialogue to end the ongoing political crisis, saying those responsible for creating anarchy across the country will be brought to book.

She blamed BNP and its allies for carrying out petrol bomb attacks.

A group of eminent citizens had sent letters to President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia, calling for talks to end the crisis that has reportedly claimed the lives of 70 people since Jan. 5. Endi