‘Court will take steps if Khaleda joins Dec 10 rally’
Staff Reporter :
It would be a mistake if the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) tries to jeopardise the law and order situation in the name of their rally to be held on December 10.
Besides, the court will take necessary steps if BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia joins the party’s 10 December rally in Dhaka.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said this while speaking at an annual training programme of Bangladesh Police Women Network in the city’s Rajarbagh area on Wednesday.
“Khaleda Zia is now residing in her residence instead of jail on condition. If she attends the public rally, the court may take legal action,” the Home Minister said.
When asked, if Khaleda Zia joins the rally, then her bail will be cancelled, the minister replied, “the court will take action in this regard.”
Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that BNP received permission to hold their rally at Dhaka’s Suhrawardy Udyan on December 10 and the government has allowed them to conduct it smoothly.
He also warned if BNP initiate any kind of violence, it will be a big mistake for them.
“Many people will gather at the BNP rally. They initially sought permission to hold the rally at either Suhrawardy Udyan or Manik Mia Avenue. But, BNP received permission to hold their rally at Suhrawardy Udyan. Manik Mia Avenue is a restricted area as the National Parliament is there,” the Home Minister said.
“We told them that they must conduct their political activities peacefully as it is their political right, but they will not be allowed to create chaos and anarchy in the name of rally,”
said Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday urged the government to take necessary take steps so that their party can hold its rally at Nayapaltan, instead of Suhrawardy Udyan, on December 10.
“From our party, we sent a letter to DMP for holding our divisional rally at Nayapaltan a month ago. Many grand rallies were held here earlier without any chaos. So, take steps as per our letter as we’ll hold our rally here. It’s your responsibility to take proper steps in this regard,” he said, UNB adds.
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader assured that they will hold the rally at Nayapaltan peacefully as part of their movement to restore democracy and people’s voting and other rights.
About their opposition to the Suhrawardy Udyan, Fakhrul said their party is not comfortable holding the political programme at the venue, which is surrounded by walls all around. “There’re no roads to easily enter and come out of it. There’s only one gate through which one or two people can enter.”
Under the circumstances, he called upon the government to permit their party to hold the rally peacefully at Nayapaltan changing its decision.
Otherwise, the BNP leader warned that the government will be held responsible for any untoward incident centring the rally.
BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged the rally in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office protesting against the filing of false and fictitious cases by police against the party leaders and activists
Earlier on Tuesday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) permitted BNP to hold its rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital on December 10 on 26 conditions.
Fakhrul said the government has been showing a lame excuse that huge traffic jams will be created if the rally is held at Nayapaltan.
The BNP leader asked the government to refrain from filing false, fabricated and fictitious cases against the opposition leaders and activists considering its consequences.
Fakhrul said the current movement has turned into a struggle of people of the entire country, not just of BNP, as people from all walks of life are getting involved in it for getting rid of Awami League’s misrule.
