The ruling Awami League has called a peace rally across the country in response to the BNP's hartal on Sunday.
Awami League leaders also accused the opposition BNP of carrying out destructive programs in the name of mega rallies, and said where the ruling party is holding peace rallies, the BNP is causing destruction in order to thwart the next election.
They added that the Awami League will build forts in neighbourhoods on Sunday and resist the hartal, which the BNP has called.
They made these statements while addressing the grand peace and development rally in front of the south gate of the Baitul Mukarram Mosque on Saturday afternoon. The rally was arranged by the party’s Dhaka City North and South Unit jointly.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, joining the rally as chief guest, said: |“We will be on the streets. Sheikh Hasina's activists were always in the streets, and they will be there tomorrow (Sunday) as well. We want peace. We always want peace before and after elections.”
He alleged that BNP men carried out attacks in front of the residence of the chief justice and assaulted police personnel.
“Who attacked the house of the chief justice? Who raised their hands on the police? We will face them. No one will be spared. Those who carried out arson attacks and violence will face trial on the soil of Bengal. After all of today’s (Saturday’s) crimes there will be no exemption in their trial,” said Quader.
Urging party leaders to be vigilant, he said: “You have to play effectively against the terrorists like the BNP. They should be taught perfectly.
“Today (Saturday) BNP leaders and activists have fled away. They ran away. Westerners were encouraging them. But they won't get anyone’s encouragement from tomorrow, as no one stays with the weak,” told Quader.
Mahbubul Alam Hanif, joint general secretary of the Awami League, said: “Today (Saturday) it has again been proved that the BNP is the party of terrorists and we will resist them on the streets.”
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said the BNP and Jamaat fled from Naya Paltan because they attacked Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan’s residence. He demanded immediate punishment for these incidents.
Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, a Presidium member of the Awami League, said that BNP activists attacked the police and vacated Naya Paltan within 15 minutes.
“It is not possible for them to deal with the Awami League with such leaders and activists. They will not get an escape route if they face only the Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League,” added Maya.
Meanwhile, Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim said: "The BNP has started an illegal process to kill democracy. They attacked the police. They attacked the chief justice's residence. We have to resist these terrorists.”
Awami League Organizing Secretary Mirza Azam said: “In the last 15 years, we have not held such important programs like Saturday) before. Today (Saturday) they (BNP) have carried out a dangerous program. We are holding peace rallies.”
The peace and development rally of the Awami League began at around 1:30pm on Saturday with cultural programs at the south gate of the Baitul Mukarram mosque in the capital.
Thousands of leaders and activists of the ruling party joined the rally with banners, national flag, festoons and colorful processions.
Though the rally was expected to begin at 2pm, Awami League leaders and activists gathered at Baitul Mukarram's south gate, Gulistan, Zero Point, and the surrounding areas and chanted slogans from 10am.
Leaders and activists of the party's associates and affiliates from different police stations and wards of the capital, including the neighbouring districts of Dhaka, joined the rally with enthusiasm.
The cultural program began at 11:30am at a rally against BNP-Jamaat terrorism, militancy, anarchy, anti-politics and continued anti-national conspiracies.
Folk singer Preeti Sarkar's 'Joy Bangla Boliya' and 'Jhilmil Jhilmil Kore Re Mayurpankhi' rent the air. Then folk music, Baul artist Fakir Shabuddin performed songs about Bangabandhu.
Artist Sujana Hossain Rupa performed the song 'Jodi Raat Pohale Shona Jeto’
Awami League Presidium members Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin, Zahangir Kabir Nanok, Abdur Rahman, Khairuzaman Liton, Awami league central leaders Ahmed Hossain, B M Mozammel Haque, S M Kamal Hossain, Asim Kumar Ukil, Mrinal Kanti Dash, Delowar Hossain, Abdus Sabur, Aminul Islam Amin, Mohammad A Arafat, Tarana Halim, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, Krishok League President Samir Chandra Roy, Jubo Mohila League President Daisy Sarwar, Shweccha Shebok League Secretary Afzalur Rahman Babu, Chhatra League President Saddam Hussain, among others, addressed the rally.
Dhaka South Awami League President Abu Ahmed Mannafi presided over the rally while General Secretary of Dhaka North Unit Awami League S A Mannan Kachi conducted the rally.
