Khaleda ZiaThree-term PM of Bangla, widow of deceased dictator Ziaur Rahman, head of the Bangla Nationalist Party, an apparent magnet for corruption ...
said yesterday.
She said Hefajat had every right to organise programmes demanding punishment to those "who had made derogatory remarks about Islam and Prophet Hazrat Muhammad [PTUI!] and hurt our religious sentiments". But, Khaleda claimed, a hartal
... a peculiarly Bangla combination of a general strike and a riot, used by both major political groups in lieu of actual governance ...
was called and various other measures were taken by the government and its supporters to foil the long march.
The leader of the 18-party opposition made the remarks at a condolence rally at Satkhira Govt Boys' High School playground.
Since February 5, youths under the banner of Bloggers and Online Activists Network have been calling for death penalty for all war criminals and a ban on Jamaat-Shibir. However,
ars longa, vita brevis...
a smear campaign was launched following the murder of a blogger on February 15 to label the young protesters as atheists.
Against this backdrop, Hefajat announced the long march programme, demanding that the government punish those who insult Islam and its prophet.
To the frustration of many who are with the movement against war criminals, the government on April 2 and 3 tossed in the calaboose
... anything you say can and will be used against you, whether you say it or not...
four bloggers, accusing them of hurting religious sentiments.
Khaleda, however, said the government had treated the four as son-in-laws instead of punishing them, which was protested by the "religious Mohammedans and Alem-Ulama".
"It is a great sin to speak ill of our beloved Prophet," she noted.
Meanwhile,
...back at the cheese factory, there was only one thought in the mouse's mind:
I can do this! I can do this!Then the trap sprung...
Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee and another 23 pro-liberation organization have called a 24-hour hartal to be enforced from 6:00pm today to resist Hefajat-e Islam.
Two "pro-government" Islamic organizations had been allowed to hold rallies in the capital, Khaleda said, adding likewise the government should not bar Hefajat from holding its programme peacefully.