BANGLADESH

The ruling Awami League on Sunday brought out several anti-hartal processions at different points of the capital.

They also gathered in front of the party headquarters at the Bangabandhu Avenue.

AL activists and supporters started gathering at the party's Bangabandhu Avenue office since morning.

Party's city unit official Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya was at the headquarters where the supporters chanted anti-strike slogan.

The BNP is enforcing Sunday's shutdown protesting against the disappearance of the party's one of the organising secretaries M Ilias Ali. The opposition asked the authorities to find Ali.

The government, however, had requested BNP to withdraw Sunday's strike. The opposition rejected the call and threatened to enforce indefinite strike if Ali was not found.

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), AL student wing, Paltan unit brought out a procession at the Nightingale Crossing near the BNP headquarters. Police, however, did not allow them to move towards the BNP headquarters.

Ulama League, a religious group affiliated with AL, brought out a procession at the Bangabandhu Avenue and held a rally in front of the National Press Club.

Several other anti-strike processions were also seen across the capital.

The BNP leaders had been alleging that the government had a hand in Ilias Ali's going 'missing'. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina rejected the allegation and said it was a "drama staged by the BNP".

Home minister Shahara Khatun on Friday called on the opposition to withdraw the strike, saying law enforcing agencies were working to find out Ilias.

BNP spokesman Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the opposition might call non-stop shutdown if Ali was not found.