DHAKA: Food minister Qamrul Islam warned the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) saying that all of the party’s leaders will be held if they create any violence during the upcoming hartal.

The minister, in the Awami League (AL) extended meeting organized by its metropolitan unit at the central office in city’s Bangabandhu Avenue on Sunday, issued the warning as BNP-led 20-party alliance had called countrywide shutdown for Monday.

Mentioning the arrests of BNP standing committee member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy and its youth wing Jubo Dal president Moazzem Hossain Alal, the minister said that all of BNP leaders will face the same fate if there will be any violence during the hartal.

He told the AL activists would encounter the opposition by staying on streets to ensure the safety of people.

AL leaders Mukul Chowdhury, Shahe Alam Murad, Sahidul Islam Milon, Abdul Haque Sabuj, among others, spoke at the meeting, chaired by AL Dhaka metropolitan unit acting-president AM Aziz.

BDST: 1808 HRS, DEC 28, 2014