The main opposition party BNP has planned to arrange an enormous rally in front of its central office at Naya Paltan to announce its one-point movement Wednesday.
The rally is set to begin at 2pm. The BNP's like-minded political parties are expected to hold simultaneous rallies to press home the demand for the ouster of the government ahead of the next parliamentary election.
The BNP's affiliate organizations are already preparing to participate in the rally. They hope that it will be the biggest rally in recent memory for the BNP, attracting around a half million people.
Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal Vice-President Saiful Islam Firoz told Dhaka Tribune: “This is going to be one of the biggest gatherings of the BNP. We have received a call from the central unit and accordingly we will attend the rally tomorrow. The leaders and activists of all the affiliate organizations of the BNP will be there.”
The rally is focused on Dhaka, but the leaders and activists of units from other areas are encouraged to take part, he added.
BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said: “We are going to have a big gathering. It is going to be a rally; we will not do any other program on this day, and we will not take out any procession from there. We are going to make a one-point announcement through a peaceful rally. Later, according to the program, activities will begin all over the country.”
On December 10 last year, the BNP began demonstrations with a 10-point demand, including the resignation of the current government, dissolution of parliament, elections under a non-partisan caretaker government, and the release of party chairperson Khaleda Zia.
A senior leader of the BNP said: “Although we will announce a one-point movement to bring down the government, there are at least five demands that are related to the one point. Certain clauses are attached to this one-point demand. As many as 36 political parties of the country have already agreed.”
BNP activists were seen conducting mic campaigns over the past few days, urging their supporters to attend the rally at Naya Paltan.
Joint convener of Dhaka Metropolitan South BNP ANM Saiful Islam said: “Our mic-ing program started from Monday. The campaign is being conducted in Dhaka South Metropolitan area. This campaign will continue till the rally starts.”
Abdus Salam, convener of the Dhaka south city unit of the BNP, said: “We will learn of the agenda for the next few months, till the elections, from the announcement at the rally. We will start the movement all over the country according to that program.”
According to BNP sources, plans have been made to ensure a massive attendance at the rally. The top leadership of the party held a preparatory meeting with the leaders of the Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal and Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal last week, where important leaders of Dhaka city and surrounding districts were given special instructions to ensure attendance at the rally.
Meanwhile, Ganatantra Mancha will hold a press conference at the National Press Club in Dhaka, Somomona Jote in front of the National Press Club, 12-Party Alliance at Dhaka Reporters Unity, and LDP at its party office.