Political tension was ratcheted up a notch late yesterday with the arrest of BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and the confinement by police of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia to her Gulshan office.
Police took Rizvi into custody from the BNP’s Nayapaltan headquarters, following an ambulance, called because Rizvi had complained of feeling ill, into the party office premises.
Special Assistant to Khaleda Zia Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas at an instant press briefing from the BNP Gulshan office late yesterday confirmed Rizvi’s arrest.
He also told journalists that Khaleda wanted to return home in her car but had been barred by police from leaving the office. He said she had been confined against her will.
Police pick-up vans were parked diagonally, blocking the main entrance to the BNP Gulshan office so as to obstruct anyone from leaving the building.
On the eve of the January 5 election anniversary, the country appears to be sitting on another explosive political situation, with both BNP and Awami League hell-bent on staging showdowns in the capital, and the administration discussing the possibilities of banning political programmes.
For months, the BNP has been talking and making preparations about reminding people big time about what they say was an “illegal and one-sided election” that took place exactly a year ago.
On the other hand, the ruling Awami League has also been trying to charge up its leaders and activists to remain visible and active on the streets in order to prevent what they say was “BNP-Jamaat’s attempt to create anarchy in the name of a movement.”
On December 22, the BNP applied to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and the Public Works Department (PWD), seeking permission to hold a rally at either the Suhrawardy Udyan or Nayapaltan or the Shapla Intersection in Motijheel.
The BNP is looking to observe January 5 as the “democracy killing day.” However, the Awami League by then had already sought permission from the administration to hold several rallies in the city on the same day, which for them is the “victory day of democracy.”
Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif yesterday claimed that they had already got permission to stage rallies at 16 points in the capital.
The BNP however claimed that they have not managed to even meet the DMP boss despite several attempts over the last few days.
Contacted, DMP Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman said they had only given verbal permission to the Awami League and a final decision about both the applications would be made today.
However, seeking anonymity, a high official of DMP told the Dhaka Tribune that they are discussing whether or not to impose section 144 in the city, just like what has been done in Gazipur recently, if both the parties remain adamant.
State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal warned that if anyone tries to disturb law and order situation then law enforcers will be strict.
BNP’s strategy
A senior BNP leader told the Dhaka Tribune that the plan for January 5 is to march towards their Nayapaltan office through 10 different points in the capital.
He said BNP’s ally Jamaat-e-Islami has been assigned to occupy six of those points in the city.
The Dhaka-based leaders of the BNP have had to face the music for putting up a dismal performance when the party and its allies were trying to resist the January 5 national election last year.
Apparently having learned from that, the party is now trying to make sure that the leaders and activists of its Dhaka city unit are on the same page this time. The BNP is also trying to make sure that the senior leaders from the other allies also stay in the streets.
Sources said senior BNP and alliance leaders will accompany the Dhaka city unit leaders and activists in the march towards the party office.
On Friday night, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia held a meeting with some senior leaders including acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at her Gulshan residence.
The decision to march towards the Nayapaltan office was finalised in that meeting.
Yesterday afternoon, Fakhrul reportedly held a meeting with the leaders from the party’s Dhaka city unit and gave them directives about the points they should take position at. Text messages containing directives in this regard were also sent to the mobile phones of the assigned leaders.
A senior BNP leader said: “Madam [Khaleda] has asked the senior leaders not to flee leaving the activists alone on the streets.”
Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint secretary general of BNP, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We will hold a rally at any cost and nobody can prevent us.” He also hoped that the government will not do anything that may lead in anarchy.
Sources said the BNP is also planning to enforce consecutive hartals starting January 6, leaving the Ijtema days free.
Permission drama
Yesterday, around 11:30am, a 3-member BNP team went to meet the DMP commissioner at his Bailey Road office; but they could not meet him because he was busy.
Once before on Thursday, the BNP tried in vain to meet the DMP boss.
“Just like Thursday, we failed to meet the DMP commissioner or other senior officials. So, we are yet to get permission for the rally,” said Zainul Abdin Farroque, publicity secretary of BNP.
Asked what they will do if they do not get permission, Farroque said: “As we believe in democracy, we will keep seeking permission. We are still hoping that we will get it. If we do not, we will go ahead with the rally.”
Officials told the BNP delegation that the commissioner was busy with Ijtema security preparations and so he could not give them time.
Benazir Ahmed has recently been appointed the director general of RAB; but he still doing office as he is yet to hand over responsibility to new DMP commissioner Assaduzzaman Mia.
State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told reporters yesterday: “It is up to the Police. DMP commissioner knows who to give permission. It is his decision.”
He also said: “One thing is very clear – political parties will announce their activities. If those programmes disturb others and violence takes place then we will have things to do.”