There is no bar against the BNP-led 20-party alliance from holding public political programmes as long as they are organised in a peaceful and democratic way, Health Minister Mohammed Nasim has said.
“If the BNP wants to hold a programme such as a rally, meeting, procession, demonstration, road march or some other activity, they must stage it peacefully and in a democratic way with discipline. The government will not bar it,” Nasim told an event at the National Press Club yesterday.
The minister, however, said law enforcement agencies would remain on alert to stop BNP and Jamaat activists if they tried to create anarchy in the name of a democratic movement.
“The government will not take action against any peaceful programme. But if they [BNP-Jamaat] try to create anarchy, the government is ready to take tough action against anyone suspected of wrongdoing,” said Nasim, also a Presidium member of the Awami League.
Earlier, similar views were expressed to the Dhaka Tribune by Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who said the BNP-Jamaat alliance were free to hold peaceful programmes.
The 20-party alliance has been staging an indefinite transport blockade since January 6, as well as calling many rounds of hartals since then.
The violence surrounding the recent political programmes have so far claimed the lives of at least 74, while businesses were bearing losses and SSC candidates were also suffering the consequences of repeated rescheduling of their exams because of hartals.
Different countries and international organisations have expressed concerns over the political turmoil, and have urged the government to allow other political parties to hold democratic programmes.
