The BNP has alleged that the government has imposed section 144 in Gazipur as part of its planned conspiracy to foil the rally.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary general of the party, made the allegation in his instant reaction over the enforcement of section 144 in Gazipur, where the party was scheduled to hold a rally on Saturday.
He said imposing section 144 in Gazipur is a part of the government's plan to thwart BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's scheduled rally.
“Khaleda Zia was scheduled to address the Gazipur rally on Saturday as the chief guest. To foil the meeting, the government has imposed section 144 as part of its planned conspiracy,” Fakhrul told Dhaka Tribune over phone.
The Gazipur administration has imposed a ban on all sorts of meetings, rallies and processions in the district from 2pm on Friday. The ban will continue until further notice.
The spokesperson of the party claimed that they followed all the procedures to get permission but the government staged a series of drama to deny the BNP to hold rally.
“The government will not allow the opposition party to hold a rally. That is why in the last few days, Gazipur administration and Chhatra League staged drama. The government has not only imposed section 144 in Bhawal Badr-e-Alam College ground, but in the entire district.”
The BNP leader alleged that the government has proved that they do not want to give any space to the opposition. “Government bars us from holding a rally in the capital and now bars us from holding a rally outside the capital.”
Earlier in the day, the BNP said despite the threat of Chhatra League, the party will hold a rally in Gazipur and party Chairperson Khaleda Zia will join the rally.
“We want to state clearly, a meeting will be held tomorrow [Saturday]. We will certainly go to Gazipur. Now it is the responsibility of the government to ensure the opposition party's rally,” Fakhrul said at a press briefing at the chairperson's Gulshan office in the morning.
