The BNP has asked for government’s ‘cooperation’ to hold Sunday’s rally. In a letter sent to the police, the junior Home minister and
the Home secretary, the BNP said it wants the government to help it hold the rally peacefully.
Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia had announced a ‘March for Democracy’ for Sunday (Dec 29) in her news conference on Tuesday.
A three-member BNP delegation headed by Opposition chief whip Zainul Abdin Farroque submitted the letter to Dhaka Metropolitan Police
Commissioner’s office.
“Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia will be present at the march on Dec 29 in front of the BNP’s Naya Paltan headquarters. We have sought
total cooperation from the police commissioner for the programme,” Farroque told reporters on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, additional police forces have been deployed in front of Khaleda’s Gulshan residence since Tuesday night.
“Security has been doubled keeping in view of the overall situation” Assistant Police Commissioner (Gulshan zone) Nurul Alam told
bndews24.com. “It’s basically for the security of the Opposition Leader.”
The police official said detectives in plainclothes were also deployed for Khaleda’s security.
At Tuesday’s news conference the Leader of the Opposition urged people to resist the Jan 5 elections.
She said they should form ‘Resistance Committees’ and ‘Sovereignty and Democracy Protection Committees’ with those agitating for ‘protecting
Bangladesh and democracy’ at all districts, Upazilas and towns.
Khaleda Zia described the ‘March for Democracy’ was to stop the ‘farcical elections’ and get the government to hold one with a
non-political caretaker in a free and fair manner.
She urged all to congregate with national flags in front of the BNP’s office in Dhaka’s Naya Paltan on that day and to the government not to
harass the marchers.
“Do not try to torture, arrest and harass (marchers). People will resist if they were prevented from holding a peaceful demonstration
and then there will be no alternative to calling for a more intense agitation.” – bdnews24.com
