Life stops for an hour in 21 southern districts

The programme was observed at the call of a people's committee for construction of the proposed Padma Bridge at Mawa.

Great enthusiasm was marked among all classes of people for the programme styled 'Achaal Dakkhinanchal' (total halt in southern region). The Committee for Padma Bridge at Mawa, organised the peaceful programme covering 21 districts in Barisal, Khulna and part of Dhaka divisions.

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Tougher programmes including an indefinite strike will be called in the 21 districts if an announcement is not made by tomorrow for building the bridge at Mawa, committee leaders declared at a rally held in Barisal yesterday.

Sharp at 11 AM, people except those in fire service, police and ambulances, stopped movement and work. Those on roads and highways, sat where they were, the committee leaders claimed.

Electric supply was suspended and shops, offices,

Markets, banks, educational institutions and courts stopped and transports on roads and rivers anchored for an hour.

Those on roads in cities and towns formed human chains or sat where they were.

At the rally held at Barisal Aswani Kumar Hall, the committee leaders explained the reasons for their demand. They said the proposed bridge should be built at Mawa for greater national interest.

Fifty-five million people of 21 districts of southern region, tourist zones there including the Sunarbans and the Mongla port will get new life will get new life if the bridge is built there, they said.

With Golam Mawla, president of the committee's Barisal divisional committee in the chair, the rally was addressed by, among others, Barisal district BNP secretary advocate Nazrul Islam Rajon, cultural personality Mintu Bose, Barisal Reporters Unity Secretary Shawkat Milton, Toufiq Maruf, Saifur Rahman Miron, human rights activist advocate Manbendra Batobayal, Muktijoddha Sangshad Convener Nuraul Alam Farid, Barisal ADAB President Hafizur Rahman, Principal Shamsuddin Khan, Bankers Club Secretary Nazrul Islam Chunnu, Nurul Amin, Red Crescent Secretary H M Saleh, Dr Habibur Rahman, Awami League leaders Khan Altaf Hossain and Moazzem Hossain Helal, Barisal city Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Maniruzzaman Faruk, BJP leader Nigar Sultana Hanufa, BCC Commissioner Altaf Vatti, JP leader AKM Shahjahan and IOJ leader Abdur Razzak.