The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Saturday urged the opposition
leader, Khaleda Zia, to call off the ongoing blockade programme amid the
three-day national mourning to pay respect to Nelson Mandela, the
revered icon of South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle and a towering
figure of 20th century politics.
The premier made the call in a statement, PM’s press secretary Abul Kalam Azad told the news agency.
Bangladesh is observing a three-day national mourning beginning on Saturday to pay homage to Mandela.
The national flag will be kept at half-mast at all offices of the
government, semi-government and autonomous bodies during the period.
The BNP-led 18-party opposition enforced the fresh 72-hour countrywide
blockade from 6:00am on Saturday demanding cancellation of the schedule
of 10th parliamentary election, restoration of caretaker government
system and release of the party leaders.
Mandela, the Nobel Peace laureate, who was elected South Africa’s first
black president after spending nearly three decades as a political
prisoner, died at his Johannesburg home on Thursday night after a long
battle against lung infection. (source)