Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Thursday said BNP will not be allowed to hold its rally at Naya Paltan on December 10.
“The government is thinking about the Kalshi Field as an alternative venue for BNP,” he said while paying a visit to the injured policemen at Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital on Thursday.
The government has no objection if BNP wants to hold a peaceful rally, however, the party has to hold it at the designated place by the commissioner,” he said adding the police would assist the opposition if they decide to shift their venue to Kalshi Field.
The home minister also said that BNP previously said it would not hold a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan. “They wanted an alternative venue, and we got them that.”
At least 47 members of the police were injured during the clash with the BNP on Wednesday.
A total of 16 are now admitted at Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital while one more officer is being treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Earlier in the day, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the BNP will hold its mass rally before the party's central office at Naya Paltan in Dhaka on December 10.
“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 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.
