The BNP is ready to brave the “repression and terrorist activities” of the government to hold its rally in Dhaka on December 10, senior party leader Mirza Abbas said on Monday.
"None of our Dhaka city leaders can stay at home now as the government has created a terrible situation by resorting to terror activities. But our activists are not afraid,” he said during a press briefing at BNP's Naya Paltan central office.
The senior BNP leader also urged the government not to create any obstacles to the party's peaceful programs.
Abbas, a BNP standing committee member who is overseeing the party's preparations for the rally, reiterated that the party would consider arranging the rally at any suitable venue in Dhaka, other than Suhrawardi Udyan and the banks of the Turag River.
He strongly condemned an attack on BNP executive committee member Ishraque Hossain allegedly by activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League near Jagannath University (JnU) while distributing leaflets for the party's December-10 rally on Sunday.
"By attacking Ishraq, they (Awami League) proved that they, not the BNP, are indulging in terrorism. This is not an isolated attack. They are carrying out such incidents one after another,” the BNP leader said.
He said ruling party “cadres” attacked the house of BNP leader Barrister Nasir Uddin Asim a few days earlier and blamed them for the recent Molotov cocktail explosion in front of the BNP's central office.
Abbas also claimed the government was spreading propaganda over terrorism surrounding the BNP's rally.
"I would like to know why the ruling party is attacking us when we're going to hold a peaceful rally from where our next course of programs will be announced,” he added.
The BNP leader said the party will not respond to any kind of provocation by the government as its main goal is to hold the program without any chaos. “We'll just hold the rally from 12 noon to 4pm and then our leaders and activists will return to their homes.”
The BNP leader alleged that police had encircled his Shahjahanpur House from the morning. “There was a workers' meeting at my house [yesterday] where I was supposed to give them directives for arranging our rally in a peaceful manner, but I was not allowed to do that. My house was surrounded by police.”
Law enforcement agencies ready for Dec 10
Representatives of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have said they are ready to maintain law and order during the BNP rally.
Commander Khandaker Al Moin, director of the RAB legal and media wing, on Monday said a bomb disposal unit of RAB, special force, special dog squad, and helicopter unit will be on alert. RAB intelligence teams, in plainclothes, will also be deployed to prevent any untoward incidents.
Furthermore, there will be a routine patrol team and check-posts will be set up across the capital.
During a press briefing held at RAB'S Karwan Bazar media office, Commander Moin said: “A stable situation is prevailing in the country at the moment. The government and political parties are conducting their political activities, and RAB has generally gained confidence in arresting criminals, drug dealers, those possessing illegal weapons and those against whom warrants have been issued.”
Meanwhile, DMP Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruq said action would be taken as per the law if the BNP tried to hold its rally at Naya Paltan.
“The BNP sought permission to hold their December 10 rally at Nayapaltan but we provided permission for Suhrawardy Udyan,” he told UNB.
Regarding alternative venues for the rally, the DMP chief said the field in Pallabi, Kalshi and Ijtema ground were viable options.
The DMP on November 29 gave permission to the BNP to hold its rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on 26 conditions. However, the BNP has been insisting on holding the rally at Naya Paltan, or at any other venue.
A BNP delegation met with the DMP commissioner to discuss the change of venue on Sunday, but a final decision is yet to be taken.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said a street cannot be an alternative to a ground for holding a rally.
"Public rallies are generally held on grounds, not on busy streets. It is not responsible for a political party to hold public meetings by obstructing vehicular movement and putting people in a state of fear. They (BNP) don't like Suhrawardy Udyan, where all gargantuan rallies in the history of Bangladesh were held," he said.
They (BNP) only like streets so that they can vandalize vehicles and set fire to different organizations as they did in 2013, 2014 and 2015,” the minister added.