Dhaka, Sep 26 (Just News): BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday alleged that the ruling Awami League leaders are issuing threats to opposition men to stop them from joining their rally, reports UNB.
The principal opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has planned to hold a rally either in front of its Naya Paltan central office or at Suhrawardi Udyan on Saturday.
"Awami League-led 14-party coordinator Mohammad Nasim at a meeting on Tuesday urged their party men to resist BNP leaders and activists so that they can't come to the rally,” Mirza Fakhrul said referring to the aggressive remarks of the AL leaders.
Addressing a press conference at the BNP's central office after a joint meeting of the party and its associate bodies, he added: “Jahangir Kabir Nanak (AL leader) directed them to break the hands and legs of our activists ...this is their democratic language."
Following such remarks, the BNP leader pointed out, the people will obviously understand who start political violence and make provocation for it.
"No one should also forget that Awami League killed 27 youths with oars and sticks on the streets on 28 October 2006," recalled Mirza Fakhrul.
He said their party will unveil its future course of action and strategy at its planned Suhrawardy Udyan public rally on Saturday.
"We'll deliver our statements on our party's future policy at the rally. Our party's future strategy and programmes will be announced there," Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said.
Fakhrul said they tried to hold the rally on Thursday, but Dhaka Metropolitan Police authorities suggested them to arrange it on a holiday on Saturday at Suhrawardy Udyan. "That's why we shifted the rally to Saturday."
He said the police are now talking in a different tone as the Awami League-led 14-party Alliance has a meeting at Mohanagar Natya Mancha the same day.
"Their venue is far away from ours. So, we can't understand what the problem is with holding our programme the same day."
Asked whether their party will hold the rally on Saturday under the current circumstances, Fakhrul said they held the joint meeting of their party for making their rally a success.
A BNP delegation, led by party publicity affairs secretary Shaheed Uddin Chowdhury Anee, met DMP authorities around 1pm on Wedneday to inquire about the permission for their rally.
Talking to UNB, Anee said the DMP authorities advised them to hold their programme at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh on Saturday instead of Suhrawardy Udyan to avoid any possible confrontation.
He said they gave the DMP authorities an alternative proposal to hold their rally on Sunday if they are given permission. "The authorities said they will inform their decision on it later."
(Justnews/ys/2350hr)
