Grand rally must be held at Naya Paltan: BNP
Staff Reporter :
The main opposition party-BNP on Wednesday vowed to hold its October 28 grand rally at Naya Paltan, in front of its central office in Dhaka, while the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is planning to fix a different venue for the event.
BNP Standing Committee Member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Wednesday said, “We have said straightly that our rally will be held at the intended venue at Naya Paltan.”
He said, “If the government prevents us to gather in Nayapaltan, we will be spread every lane-by lanes across the capital. All of the city dwellers will also come out of their doors.
The government then could understand the matter well.”
He questioned, “Where does the constitution stipulate us to seek permission from the police to hold a rally?” During the discussion at the Bangladesh Shishu Kalyan Parishad, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy urged the police force not to stir a fresh debate over the venue.
“If you, under political consideration, deliver a decision on where we can hold a rally, and where we can’t, we are not obliged to comply with it”, Goyeshwar Roy said.
Meanwhile, BNP Senior Joint-Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi firmly said that the party’s grand rally must be held in front the party office.
“Our grand rally on October 28 must be held at Nayapaltan. This (Naya Paltan) is the suitable place for us, and we have organised many peaceful rallies here,” Rizvi said at a press briefing at the party central office on Wednesday.
He said that their preparations for a grand rally in front of the party headquarters are nearly complete.
BNP Senior Joint-Secretary General said their grand rally would be a historic and unprecedented gathering, with participation of the people across the country.
Despite ongoing state-sponsored assaults and suppression, people are determined to come to Dhaka, defying mass arrests.
He castigated the police statement that the BNP must hold its rally only where the DMP permits.
He said the statement implies that the people of Bangladesh have been subjugated.
Everything, including political activities and the expression of views, now depends on police clearance.
