Three affiliate organizations of the ruling Awami League and its archrival BNP are all set to hold two mass rallies in the capital this afternoon after “a series of drama over their favourite venues” in the last couple of days. But fear of violence remains, though both parties have committed to peaceful demonstrations against each other.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Thursday afternoon permitted the political organisations to hold their rallies, albeit on 23 conditions to ensure that the excitement over the rallies does not lead to clashes.
The conditions include limiting the rallies to the designated spaces, not gathering on the streets or sidewalks outside of the approved places, concluding the rallies within the allotted time, not making anti-state or provocative speeches and not carrying sticks or rods in the name of carrying banners or festoons.
For his part, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said the government will not allow rallies on roads, which rallies lead to public suffering.
The Awami League's associate organisations – Awami Jubo League, Sechchhasebak League and Chhatra League – will organise their “peace rally” at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 3pm, instead of the old trade fair ground in Agargaon as suggested by the DMP.
And the BNP is ready for its rally before its main office at Nayapaltan at 2pm, after Jummah prayers rather than at Golapbagh ground, which was advised by the police.
Both rallies were planned for Thursday but got rescheduled for this afternoon as the opposition party in a last-minute call on Wednesday night announced the new timing and its preferred venue, Nayapaltan.
Interestingly, the three associate organisations of the ruling party, too, rescheduled their rally immediately by a day as the rally venue – the Dhaka International Trade Fair field at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar – was not “suitable” for the event by then.
They finally relocated the site of the rally on Thursday.
The BNP has been organizing rallies to press home its one-point demand, aimed at the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to “pave the way for the next national election to be held under a neutral government.” Its allies have also joined the movement.
In an apparent counter, the three affiliate bodies of the Awami League have been holding “peace rallies” so that the BNP and its like-minded parties or vested quarters cannot create anarchy in the name of the movement.
In the last edition of the rallies on July 18, clashes were reported in parts of the country, with fierce brawls in Mirpur of the capital. Hundreds were injured and several thousand were sued over the countrywide clashes.
‘No anti-state speeches'
The BNP was asked to limit its rally from Kakrail's Nightingale crossing to Rajarbagh Police Hospital and the AL bodies were asked to restrict their rally from Mahanagar Natya Manch to Muktangan, DMP Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruk said while briefing journalists about the permission to the parties.
Urging the supporters of both parties not to carry any sticks, bamboo and bags to the rallies, he said anti-state speeches will come under restrictions.
Meanwhile, the home minister told a press conference that large political parties have been requested to avoid rallies on the roads along with putting a check on attempts at violence and vandalism centering on the meetings.
“If such a situation arises, the law enforcement agencies will take necessary measures,” he said.
BNP alleges crackdown
The BNP on Thursday alleged that the police have been arresting its leaders and activists coming to the capital from different parts of the country to participate in its rally.
Law enforcement agencies, including the police, have conducted operations in various residential hotels and residences of the capital, it said.
In an emergency message, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi claimed on Wednesday Mir Ashraf Ali, former commissioner of ward no 26 of Dhaka City Corporation and his son Barrister Muntaha Ali were detained by law enforcers from their house on Wednesday night.
During the process of the arrest, Ashraf Ali was seriously injured. He is currently under treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital in police custody, said the message.
Besides, some other central BNP leaders were arrested from various places in the capital.
Police also raided Midway Hotel and Victoria Hotel near the BNP's central office at Nayapaltan. They arrested more than 300 leaders and activists who had come to attend the rally, claimed Rizvi.
Mirpur Model Police Station ASI Abdul Alim said that a team of the police station arrested 27 BNP leaders and activists from different points of Mirpur on Wednesday night around 11pm on various charges.