The nationwide indefinite transport blockade which started on January 6 has already passed 50 days. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia called for the agitation programme from her political office at Dhaka’s Gulshan on January 5 as the government did not allow the BNP-led 20-party alliance to hold protest rallies in the city the previous day. It is unacceptable that the whole of February has been wasted in shutdown, taking a heavy toll on the nation. But what is the ultimate result of this arson and violence? Is this the 75 innocent deaths?This is mentionable, an estimated loss of Tk. 1,18,404 to the economy and postponement of SSC and equivalent examinations 8 times. Whatever may be the BNP's cause, it has not been helped at all by its relentless pursuit of destructive forms of protests. Hartals and blockade have now been reduced to deplorable acts of sabotage and violence, leading to loss of lives and maiming of thousands. And what, we ask, has the BNP gained in return, except cause prolonged misery to the people for whose sake they profess to be forging this movement?

An interesting matter is ,the so called movement of BNP, merely given to the declaration of blockade and hartals from their party offices and consequent acts of violence, has failed to mobilise public support. On the contrary, it has only alienated the public. Even BNP's own activists are missing from the streets. 

BNP should  stop holding the country hostage and withdraws this morally and politically criminal programme as early as possible.