BNP leaders have claimed that police are arresting its leaders and activists who are coming to the capital from different parts of the country to participate in Firday's rally.
BNP alleged that law enforcement agencies including the police have conducted operations in various residential hotels and residences of the capital and have already detained many leaders and activists.
They have been taken to various police stations of the capital.
In an emergency message, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi claimed on Wednesday Mir Ashraf Ali, former commissioner of ward no 26 of Dhaka City Corporation and his son Barrister Muntaha Ali detained by law enforcers from their house on Wednesday night.
During the arrest, Ashraf Ali was seriously injured including breaking both his legs. He is currently under treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital in police custody, said the message.
Besides, BNP relief and rehabilitation affairs secretary Advocate Shafiqul Haq Milan, co-organizing secretary Abdul Quddus Akon, former general secretary of Rajshahi Mahanagar BNP Anwar Hossain Uzzal were arrested from various places in the capital.
Police also raided Midway Hotel and Victoria Hotel near BNP's central office at Nayapaltan. They arrested more than 300 leaders and activists who had come to attend the rally, claimed Rizvi.
He also said that on the eve of BNP's rally, various hotels in the capital are being searched and arrests of BNP leaders and activists are underway.
“I strongly condemn such activities of the police against the freedom of rally as a part of democratic practice in view of the upcoming elections and demand the immediate release of the arrested leaders and activists,” said Rizvi.
When asked about this, DMP's Mirpur Model Police Station ASI Abdul Alim said that a team of the police station arrested 27 BNP leaders and activists from different points of Mirpur on Wednesday night around 11pm on various charges.
The BNP had planned to hold their rally at Naya Paltan or Suhrawardy Uddyan on Wednesday but the DMP did not give them permission to use either venue.
Police suggested they consider the Golapbagh field where the party held its grand rally on December 10 last year.
Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the new date during a press conference after a meeting with senior leaders of the party last night that the rally will be held on Friday. The rally will be held after the Jummah prayer at Naya Paltan.
