BNP public rally

Thousands of party men gathering at Suhrawardy Udyan

Thousands of party men gathering at Suhrawardy Udyan

Dhaka, Sep 30 (Just News): BNP leaders and activists started gathering at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka this afternoon to take part to a rally where the party is expected to come up with some specific demands, including polls under a nonpartisan administration.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and its Standing Committee Member Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain and other senior leaders reached the venue.

Thousands of BNP leaders and activists coming from different areas gathered at the venue.

Since 11:30am, they in separate processions came to Suhrawardy Udyan and chanted various slogan, including the release of party chief Begum Khaleda Zia, who is now in jail after a court sentenced her to five years jail in a corruption case.

The party believes the process for a “greater national unity” will move forward based on these demands, which also include release of Begum Khaleda Zia and dissolution of parliament ahead of the election.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police gave permission for the rally on 22 conditions, including the party's own arrangement of security, when two BNP representatives met DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia around 11:30am yesterday.

The last time the party held a meeting at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan was in November last year when Khaleda Zia was present.

With the party chief now behind bars in a corruption case, the BNP will place a seven-point demand and a 12-point vision at the rally.

The demands include deployment of the army with magistracy power during the polls; no use of electronic voting machines; reforms of the Election Commission based on consensus among all political parties, and presence of local and international observers to ensure transparency in the elections.

In its 12-point vision, the party says that if voted to power, it will not pursue the politics of vengeance, and that it will establish democracy and good governance.

(Justnews/ys/1410hr)