Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday extended her sincere thanks to the opposition for withdrawal of its scheduled May 2 countrywide hartal (shutdown) in response to her request in this regard, PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said.

On Monday, Sheikh Hasina requested the opposition to call off the hartal considering the humanitarian ground as the rescue operation at Savar is going on.

"I would like to request the opposition to withdraw May 2 hartal on humanitarian ground and please spend the money you would use for the shutdown for the families of those killed and injured in the Rana Plaza collapse," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while talking to the journalists after visiting the Savar Combined Military Hospital on Monday to see the victims who are undergoing treatment at the hospital being injured in the Rana Plaza collapse.

On Tuesday, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Begum Khaleda Zia in a statement said that they have postponed the hartal in response to the Prime Minister's call in this regard and allow all to stand beside the victims of Savar tragedy.

On Saturday night, the BNP-led 18-party alliance called the countrywide daylong hartal for Thursday to register its protest against the Savar tragedy.

Ends/AMA/30/04/13