The BNP has announced to stage a countrywide protest programme on Sunday as the Dhaka Metropolitan Police denied party permission to hold rally at capital’s Suhrawardy Udyan.
BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the announcement at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan headquarters on Saturday afternoon.
Fakhrul said: “Our leaders waited for over an hour at the office of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Friday evening for the permission, but they were not given the permission. We sent two separate letters to PWD and the DMP authorities on October 29 asking for their permission.”
“Such attitude of the administration proves that we[common people] do not have the permission to express our opinion. There is no scope for continuing democratic activities in the country.”
Slamming the journalists, he said: “Some newspapers always publish negative reports on our party. They intentionally skip the truth and portray the weaker sides of us.”
“Many newspapers today published a report saying that we have cancelled the rally. But the truth is the illegal government is not letting us to hold our programmes.”
Earlier on Friday, the party chalked out a 10-day programmes including the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on Saturday, marking the November 7.
BNP observed the day as National Revolution and Solidarity Day, Awami League as Freedom Fighters Killing Day while Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu) as Civil-Military Uprising Day.
BNP chief Khaleda Zia was suppose to address the rally. But Dhaka Metropolitan Police denied the party permission to organise the rally.
Later, the party decided to hold an emergency press conference at its Nayapaltan central office at 11am on Saturday to brief about its latest stance over the rally.
