The United People's Democratic Front will enforce a two-day blockade on roads and waterways in three hill districts from tomorrow in protest against the imposition of Bengali nationality on the national minorities.
The blockade is part of a series of programmes launched by the party to press for its demand for cancellation of the 15th amendment to the Constitution which, they said, denied identity and rights of the ethnic minorities and made them second class citizens by retaining Islam as the state religion.
They are also protesting invocation of Bismillah-Ar-Rahman-Ar-Rahim and insertion of new undemocratic clauses in the Constitution that violate the rights to assemble and express free opinions.
The party in a press release on Monday reduced the blockade programme for Bandarban to only one day on July 20.
A central committee member of the party, Ujjwal Smriti Chakma, in a statement called on the owners of motorised vehicles and vessels to keep them off the roads and waterways.
He sought cooperation of the transport owners' and workers' associations to make the blockade programme successful.
The press release said vehicles and vessels of emergency services such as fire service, ambulance, press, power department and vehicles carrying religious leaders like monks would remain out of the purview of the blockade.
Earlier, the party had formed human chains in three hill districts on July 12 amid spontaneous participation from hill people.
Source : New Age
