Khaleda warns govt against hurdles
ET Report

Bangladesh Nationalist Party is going to observe hartal today in the backdrop of lagging development, education, employment and business.
Before the hartal, BNP chief Khaleda Zia has warned the government against any obstruction to the countrywide general strike.
"The government will have to bear the responsibility of any fallout if it tries to obstruct our peaceful programme."
Opposition leader Khaleda was speaking at a media briefing at her office in Gulshan Frdiay.
The former prime minister said the government should rectify itself realising the overall situation.
Alluding to the opposition's claim that the Awami League government had come to power with the aid of different quarters at home and abroad, Khaleda said, "If the people of the country do not so desire, no foreign or domestic force will be able to help the government."
Khaleda called on the public to make the general strike a success.
She said, "We were forced to call this general strike to protest against the failures and misrule of the government.
This strike has been called to stand up for the rights of the people and protest persecution.
She said the stoppage was a means to draw the attention to lagging development, education, employment and business, she added.
"So, I request the people to stop work for a few hours in order to protest against this autocratic government."
She also said that observing general strikes was a democratic right of the people and urged the government not to obstruct the opposition's peaceful movement.
Khaleda asked the ruling Awami League not to unleash its cadres on the streets to impede the opposition's programme.
She said the shutdown was a warning shot fired. "Our future programmes will depend on the actions of the government during and after the hartal."
The former prime minister reiterated her party's sincerity in cooperating with the government and said, "We want to conserve democracy and assist the government."
"We have not yet demanded that the government leave the office, nor are we asking for mid-term elections."
The people have a far more radical position than "we do regarding this government", she added.
Khaleda said that the government had made the parliament ineffective and urged the ruling party to improve the situation.