The BNP has vowed to hold its rally in Dhaka on January 5 even it is not given permission by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
“We will hold our planned grand rally in the city on January 5 to mark the democracy killing day even if the administration do not give us permission,” said BNP publicity secretary Joynal Abdin Farooque after coming out from Dhaka Metropolitan office yesterday.
Replying to a question, the BNP leader however said that the party leadership would decide as to where the rally will take place. Farooque said they could not meet senior officials of the DMP and were not conveyed anything about the requested permission.
Earlier a three-member team led by Farooque went to DMP office to know the update over giving permission to BNP to hold its rally any of the three places—Suhrawardy Udayn, Shapla Square or Naya Paltan (in front of BNP central office).
The BNP had written to DMP on December 22 seeking permission for the venue but the police administration is yet to give it any green signal.
BNP chairperson at a press conference on Wednesday announced that the January 5 would be observed as democracy killing day amid various programme of holding rallies across the country carrying back flags. She said centrally they would hold a peaceful rally in the city on January 5.
The BNP delegation also went to the DMP office on Thursday and returned without meeting with the high officials.
The two others members of the BNP delegation are—BNP chairperson’s adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo and assistant office secretary Abdul Latif Jony.
The ruling Awami League has already announced that they would hold rallies at 16-point including Suhrawardy Udyan on the same day to mark the first anniversary of January 5 poll that BNP and many other political parties had boycotted as it was not organiased under a non-partisan administration.
Meanwhile, echoing the view of the state minister for home affairs, Awami League policymaker Tofail Ahmed yesterday told reporters that the BNP may be given permission if there is no possibility of sabotage. – Staff Reporter
