The ruling Awami League and its affiliated bodies have planned rallies at 16 points including the Suhrawardy Udyan of the capital for tomorrow to observe the “Victory Day of Democracy” and resist the BNP’s counter programmes the same day.
Several central leaders of the ruling party have confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune that they would take control of all the city streets from 2:30pm.
Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif said they would act strongly if the BNP supporters attempted to create anarchy in the name of holding rally.
He also claimed that the Dhaka Metropolitan Police had already given them permission to hold rallies at the 16 spots.
According to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s political office at Dhanmondi, the 16 spots are Purabi Cinema Hall, Shyampur-Jurain rail gate, Demra-Jatrabari ground, Badda-Rampura petrol pump, Dhanmondi Road 32, Mirpur 1 (intersection), Lalbagh, Gulshan, Sutrapur, Tejgaon, Sabujbagh-Khilgaon, Uttara, Kamrangirchar, Mohammadpur, Kafrul and Suhrawardy Udyan.
Local lawmakers and senior leaders of ward units would lead the rallies in their respective areas.
On the other hand, the BNP supporters have reportedly planned to take position in 10 spots of the capital tomorrow to observe “Democracy Killing Day.” Then they will march towards the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters in small processions.
On January 5, the Awami League will hold rallies in divisions, districts and upazilas, and also at 16 points in the capital. The rally on January 6 is set to be held at the Central Shaheed Minar. The party would organise another rally on January 10 at the Suhrawardy Udyan marking the Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu.
When contacted, DMP Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman said they had only given “verbal permission” to the Awami League. “But a decision in this regard [on both parties’ applications] will be made today.”
Another DMP official seeking anonymity told the Dhaka Tribune that section 144 could be imposed to avert any untoward incident as two major parties had announced programmes simultaneously.
The authorities last week banned public gatherings in Gazipur that foiled BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s rally since the Awami League’s student body Chhatra League had declared a counter rally at the same venue the same day.
State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday said the authority of giving permission for rallies lies with the police.
He earlier said the BNP-led 20-party alliance would not be allowed to hold any rally if there was apprehension that the party’s supporters might get involved in subversive activities.
The recent developments centring tomorrow’s programmes have galvanised the political situation of the country as both the parties have been seen firm on their stances. The BNP has threatened tougher movement if their programmes were obstructed. Its leaders warned that they would not allow the Awami League to hold rally peacefully, if barred.
The 20-party alliance led by the BNP boycotted the January 5 election held last year.
BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said they would hold the rally at any cost.
Criticising him for the statement, Hanif on Friday said the BNP leaders’ threats and provocative speeches proved that they did not respect the law.
The Awami League earlier announced to hold a grand rally for tomorrow. But later they deferred it by a day after the BNP announced a rally on the same day.
Dhaka city unit General Secretary Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya earlier said activists of the BNP-Jamaat alliance led by Khaleda Zia would not be allowed to take to the streets from this month.
Maya, also the disaster management and relief minister, claimed that supporters of the Awami League’s Dhaka city unit, Chhatra League, Jubo League, Sechchasebak League and other associate bodies would take position everywhere to protest BNP’s agitation.
Ruling 14-party ally Workers Party has also announced a rally in the capital for tomorrow to observe “Victory Day of Democracy.”