Dhaka, Aug 14: Bangladesh's leader of Opposition Sheikh Hasina has criticised Prime Minister Khaleda Zia government of patronizing killers of founding father Sheikh Mujbiur Rahman even as her party Awami League called for a half day general strike tomorrow.

"A horrifying situation has been prevailing in the country as criminals are not being punished and repression of our party leaders and workers is going on," Hasina, who returned from a foreign tour to attend 27th death anniversary of her father Sheikh Mujib, said yesterday. Awami League has called for a half day general strike tomorrow to protest certain restrictions imposed by the government recently and deleting August 15 as national mourning day from holiday calendar.

Defying the government's amended rule, Awami League plans to hoist the national flag half-mast to mark the death anniversary of country's founding father, who was killed in a coup on August 15, 1975. "Those who don't accept the national mourning day, don't believe in independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh," she said, adding the government has adopted appeasement policy towards defeated forces of 1971 liberation war and rewarding the self-confessed killers of bangabandhu and four other national leaders.

Awami League would also hold a demonstration later in the day to protest downsizing of Hasina's security. Earlier, the government had withdrawn the special security force cover from Sheikh Hasina which she had been enjoying since relinquishing power in July last year.

Bureau Report