The BNP and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) late on Thursday reached a compromise on the venue for the party's upcoming mass rally in the capital.
The BNP had proposed Kamalapur Stadium as the venue while the DMP had suggested using the Government Bangla College field for the rally, BNP Vice Chairman Barkat Ullah Bulu told the media following a two-hour discussion with DMP Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq.
“We will visit both spots tonight and hold our rally at whichever place we like after talking it over with senior leaders of our party,” he added.
Bulu said they had also discussed Wednesday's police action, raid on the BNP office and arrest of party leaders and activists.
“We told them (DMP officials) to reopen our office and they (police) said the office will be reopened and BNP leaders and activists can go there,” UNB quoted Bulu as saying.
Detective Branch chief Harun-or-Rashid meanwhile told the media the discussion had taken place in a cordial manner and that any issues regarding the rally venue would be resolved by Friday.
Earlier in the day, a BNP delegation led by Barkat Ullah Bulu went to the DMP headquarters to meet with Khandker Golam Faruq and discuss the venue for the party's rally. Other BNP leaders present were AJ Mohammad Ali, Ahmed Azam Khan, Dr AZM Zahid Hossain and Barrister Kaysar Kamal.
The team was now at BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas' home to discuss the next course of action, party media cell member Shairul Kabir Khan said.
Before that, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said no rally would be allowed on any street and suggested the BNP seek permission from the DMP commissioner to hold its rally on the Kalshi ground in Mirpur.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir earlier said the BNP was resolute in its decision to hold the rally at Naya Paltan but added that the party would consider it if the government suggested a suitable alternative venue.
Tension had been mounting for the last few days over the BNP's Dhaka rally – its 10th and last one in a series of mass gatherings in 10 major cities of the country.
The BNP's preferred venue was the road in front of the party's Naya Paltan central office, a proposition rejected by the government.
Party activists had been gathering almost every day outside the office. But on Wednesday a deadly clash erupted between BNP men and the police, which left one dead and many others injured.
