The BNP on Monday reiterated that its activists would not leave the streets until its demand for the resignation of the government is met, but the party refrained from announcing any new programs until holding discussions with its coalition partners.
Addressing the party's rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital on Monday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said: “We have come a long way. Victory is assured for us.
“We believe in peaceful programs. I will announce the next program of the movement after discussions with the coalition parties. If the repression is not stopped, the people will resist. If you (the government) don't come to the straight path, you will be hard pressed on the streets,” he added.
The Dhaka Metropolitan North and South units of BNP organized the public meeting to protest the attacks on and torture and arrest of BNP leaders and activists during the sit-in program at the entry points to Dhaka last Saturday.
“Arresting our leaders and activists will not benefit you. The government is so frightened that they arrested 1,200 of our people. A house-to-house search was conducted last night,” Fakhrul said.
He also alleged that the ruling Awami League had hired people from America to stop the BNP's movement.
"Have they been able to stop our movement by hiring a few people? They couldn't,” he said.
The BNP leaders at the rally also said they would change their political strategy, if needed, to continue the one-point movement.
BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas said the party's leaders and activists have sworn an oath that no one would go home until the fall of the government, and the movement will not be slowed by arrests or illness.
“We did not say that we will besiege Dhaka [last Saturday]; we said that we will do a peaceful sit-in program at the entrance. But what did the government do? A hellish attack was carried out by police forces and terrorists,” he added.
BNP Joint Secretary General Khairul Kabir Khokon and Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also addressed the rally, among others.
Rizvi said: “While people are peacefully protesting for the restoration of democracy and voting rights in the country, the Awami League is forming peace committees similar to those of Yahya Khan and Tikka Khan.”
He accused the police and the Awami League of injuring and arresting many leaders and activists during their peaceful programs, and plotting to disrupt their activities with false cases.
Krishak Dal General Secretary Shahidul Islam Babul, and Swechchasebak Dal President SM Jilani were also among the speakers at the rally
Rizvi mentioned that the police had granted permission for the rally on 21-23 conditions.
He highlighted one of the stipulations, which prevents the publication of the speech of a convicted person. Rizvi argued that this condition was specifically targeted at BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman, as he is uniting people and party leaders and activists across the country.
The rally was supposed to start at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital at around 2pm, but it was delayed due to rain. At around 3pm, the leaders climbed on to a temporary platform made of trucks.