The BNP-led 19-party alliance will stage demonstration across the country on February 1 protesting the “attack” on their yesterday’s countrywide black flag procession programme.
“The programme will be held on Saturday across the country protesting the arrest and attack on black flag processions,” Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary general of the party, told journalists at a press briefing at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Fakhrul also said: “We have sought permission from Dhaka Metropolitan Police to hold a protest rally at Suhrawardy Udyan at 3pm on the day. We hope that the government’s good sense will prevail and it will allow us to hold the programme.”
The spokesperson of the party said the party chairperson might hold a press conference within a day or two to address the nation.
“Our peaceful black flag processions were obstructed in different places. In many places, law enforcers attacked our processions and opened fire. In Satkhira, police opened fire on our procession and killed Jubo Dal leader Jiarul Islam,” he alleged.
The former premier Khaleda Zia on January 15 announced the black flag procession urging people to join the programme.
The party did not get permission from the authorities concerned to hold the rally in the capital, he decried.
The Dhaka city unit BNP vowed to bring out black flag procession in every ward of the capital but only a few leaders and activists were seen in a number of places in the capital.
However, in many districts of the country the BNP-led 19-party alliance brought out processions and staged demonstration protesting what they said the “Democracy Killing Day”.
But a press release signed by Ali Azgar Matobbar, joint convener of the Dhaka city unit, claimed that more or less in all the wards the party brought out black flag processions and alleged that during the programme 25 to 30 of their activists were injured during the clash with the police and 15-20 leaders and activists were arrested.
On several occasions BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia censured city leaders for their lukewarm response to her call to remain on streets but they did not pay heed.
Since the movement started, the Dhaka city unit leaders limited their activities to issuing press releases time to time. They had never actively taken part in the street movement.
Fakhrul termed the 10th parliament a place of clowns. Responding to a query he said: “No country has given legitimacy to the government. Western countries expressed their frustration over the January 5 elections but congratulated the prime minster for the so-called government.”
The opposition is now consciously avoiding confrontation and violence. “We are announcing programmes to mobilise public opinion,” he said.