BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said the BNP will hold its mass rally before the party's central office at Naya Paltan in Dhaka on December 10.
He announced the decision at a press conference at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office on Thursday.
“Our pre-announced rally will be held in front of the party's central office at Naya Paltan. If any untoward incident happens here, the government will be held responsible. We urge the government to remove all obstacles and allow peaceful assembly.”
"It is the government's responsibility to ensure the rally is held peacefully. We will consider it if the government suggests a suitable alternative venue," Fakhrul said.
"The police attacked BNP leaders and activists without any provocation. Such a cowardly attack is unimaginable. The police entered the BNP office with bombs in a cement bag," said Fakhrul.
He claimed the police had vandalized furniture and valuables in the office and taken away important documents.
Talking about Suhrawardy Udyan as a venue, Fakhrul said there were many problems with it. “Problem number one is that there is no opportunity for large gatherings due to the construction of various structures at the park. The ground is no longer suitable for holding political rallies. Surrounded by walls, it is absolutely not a suitable place for any big gathering.”
The BNP would announce its demands and future programs at the Dhaka rally, its 10th and last one in a series of mass gatherings in 10 major cities of the country, he said. There the party would demand the prime minister's resignation, dissolution of parliament and formation of a caretaker government.
Fakhrul also spoke about the transport strikes during the mass rallies of the BNP. “The current political situation is such that when a liberal political party announces a peaceful assembly, the pro-government transport unions announce a strike.”
Tension has been mounting for the last few days over the venue for the BNP's mass rally in Dhaka.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said the BNP must hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan, but party leaders are adamant that they will not hold the rally there, although mentioning that they are open to other options.
The BNP's preferred venue is the road in front of the party's Naya Paltan central office, a proposition rejected by the ruling party and the government.
Party activists had been gathering almost every day outside the office. But on Wednesday a deadly clash erupted between BNP leaders and the police, which left one dead and many others injured.
