BNP has applied to authorities concerned asking permission to hold rallies in the capital on January 3 and 5.
On Monday, the party submitted applications to Dhaka Metropolitan Police and PWD seeking clearance to hold meetings at either Suhrawardy Uddyan or Shapla Chattar, or the front of the party’s Nayapaltan Headquarters.
Abdul Latif Jony, an assistant office secretary of the BNP confirmed that two separate letters have indeed been sent to DMP and PWD authorities, but no response has yet been disclosed.
Party insiders feel that the alliance’s movement to topple the government would gain a fresh impetus if the rallies are disallowed; in that case, tough programmes such as hartals and blockades would be enforced.
Reports on Sunday claimed that the BNP-led 20-party alliance is planning to hold two public rallies on January 2 and 5 in the capital, attempting to mount pressure on the government to hold intermediate-elections under a non-partisan government.
BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP chairperson’s Adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo, Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, and Dhaka city unit BNP member secretary Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel held an hour long meeting with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan residence on Sunday.
A senior leader of the party told the Dhaka Tribune that decisions on the rally were made in that meeting.
The first rally, intended initially to be held on January 2, has now been scheduled on January 3.
