Dhaka, June 26 (bdnews24.com) – Pro-government Bangladesh Chhatra League has declared that it would thwart Sunday's dawn-to-dusk general strike called by the opposition BNP.

BCL activists made the declaration at a rally on the Dhaka University campus.

Mahmud Hasan Ripon, the BCL president, claimed that the hartal called more than a month ago had lost its appeal largely because most of the opposition demands had already been met.

The strike has been called in support of several demands including solving gas-water-electricity crisis, improvement of law and order and ensuring press freedom.

"So BCL will be on the field to prevent the strike by any means," he added.

Ripon expressed his concern that 'Jamaat-Shibir' can take advantage of the strike by creating chaos in order to stop the trial of the war criminals.

He instructed all the leaders and activists of BCL through out the country to stay on the alert on Sunday.

DU BCL unit president Sheikh Sohel Rana Tipu, general secretary Sajjad Sakib Badsha and others spoke in the rally coordinated by BCL general secretary Mahfuzul Haider Chowdhury Roton.

Tipu told bdnews24.com that they will take position at around 6 am Sunday on the campus and its surrounding areas.

"BCL will keep an eye all day to ensure that none can create disorder inside the campus in the name of general strike."

The miscreants will be stopped by all means, said Tipu.

State minister for law Kamrul Islam had warned earlier that the government will not tolerate any sort of anarchy or disorder during the strike.

Dhaka metropolitan police has banned processions on the main roads of the capital.

On the other hand, BNP chief Khaleda Zia had warned the government against any obstruction to the June 27 countrywide hartal.

"The government will have to bear the responsibility of any consequences if it tries to obstruct our peaceful programme," she had said on Friday.

BNP secretary general Delwar Hossain alleged on Saturday that the government had been arresting and harassing BNP leaders and activists across the country to disrupt the strike.

The partners of the four party coalition led by BNP have already declared their support to the strike.

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