Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Deputy Commissioner (Media) Faruk Hossain has said a decision will be taken on allowing the BNP to hold a rally in the capital on December 10 after a risk analysis by intelligence agencies. However, when permission can be given, it cannot be said specifically.
He was speaking to reporters at DMP Media Center on Minto Road at noon on Tuesday after BNP leaders left after meeting DMP Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq.
He stated: “BNP leaders met with the DMP commissioner and requested permission to hold a mass rally in Dhaka.”
"We have received the written application. We will now review it and determine whether permission may be granted. We will examine data from our intelligence agencies to determine whether there is any kind of concern,” he added.
When asked about the arrest of BNP leaders and activists, he responded: "No such arrest operation is going on against persons who have no case against them. However, we will unquestionably prosecute and arrest those people against whom there are concrete cases.”
In answer to the query from the media regarding the estimated time that might take for the BNP to obtain permits for its large gathering, he stated: "They applied on Tuesday. We will discuss and make a decision after analyzing the risk through our own intelligence agency."
BNP leaders on Tuesday went to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner to obtain permission for the party's December 10 rally in Dhaka.
A seven-member BNP delegation made its way to DMP Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruk's office at around 10am.
Amanullah Aman, convener of Dhaka North city unit BNP, said: “The BNP has held a series of mass rallies in the divisional cities to protest the price hike of daily essentials, including fuel oil. We have also protested the murder of five of our party leaders and activists who had been demanding the release of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia.”
The DMP commissioner was asked to prevent the Awami League from causing chaos during the rally, he added.
Amanullah Aman also said: "Rallies are scheduled to be held in six other divisional cities in the future. A peaceful rally will be held on December 10 before the party's Nayapaltan headquarters in Dhaka. We have sent a letter seeking permission for the rally.”
The BNP leader added that the DMP commissioner had been requested not to stop public transportation ahead of the rally.