DHAKA: Senior leaders of ruling Awami League claimed that people of the country have rejected the countrywide hartal enforced by BNP led 20-party alliance.

They made the remarks from anti-hartal rally, procession in Bangabandhu Avenue, other parts of the city on Monday.

Targeting at BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya said “The people do not respond you call as you killed innocent people.”

The Dhaka Metropolitan Awami League general secretary also claimed that BNP, its alliance failed to attach people of the country to Monday’s hartal.

Asserting that the people have thrashed the hartal, AL Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud, while addressing a rally in front of National Press Club, ordered his party men to beat the picketers.

Citing that democratic environment is needed for fair politics, Food Minister Advocate Kamrul Islam said Khaleda and her son Tarique Rahman have to be ousted from the politics to do this.

The leaders and activists of different wings of AL gathered at Bangabandhu Avenue from different areas of the city with processions from 9:00am.

Later, a procession of AL leaders and activists paraded Gulistan, Zero point and Paltan.

BDST: 1329 HRS, DEC 29, 2014