STAFF REPORTER
The authorities have finally given permission to both the ruling Awami League and opposition BNP to hold their rallies in the city today to mark the 2nd year anniversary of January 5 parliamentary polls.Both Dhaka South City Corporation and Dhaka Metropolitan Police have given the permission to hold the rallies in front of their respective party offices with some conditions.
The AL will hold its rally in front of its party central office at Bangabandhu Avenue while the BNP to hold its rally in front of party headquarters at Naya Paltan in the afternoon. The Awami League was also given permission to hold another rally at Russel Square.
The ruling party will observe Janaury 5 as “Victory Day for Democracy”, while BNP that had boycotted the 2014 polls will observe the day as “Democracy Killing Day”.
Talking to journalists DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia confirmed that both the parties were given conditional permission to hold their rallies in front of their respective party offices.
He however warned that they would take stern action if anyone attempts to carry out any destructive activities in the name of political programmes.
For the sake of the public safety, we shall deal all parties in same manner, he said.
Earlier, DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon said as both parties sought Suhrawardy Udyan for holding their respective rallies no one was allowed to go for that.
“Now, BNP will have to hold its rally at Naya Paltan while Awami League at Bangabandhu Avenue,” he said while briefing repoeters at Nagar Bhaban yesterday.
The ruling Awami League will remain vigilant today centering the much talked about ‘January 5’, voting day of the 10th parliamentary elections.
The party high-ups have also asked its leaders and workers to remain vigilant across the country so that BNP-Jamaat elements cannot create an anarchic situation in the country as they did in the past surrounding the January 5, party insiders told The Independent correspondent yesterday.
When contacted AL organizing secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said that AL was getting a smell of conspiracy from BNP’s plan to mark the January 5 as the democracy killing day.
“And that is why our leaders and workers have already been asked to remain vigilant on the day to avoid any untoward situation. You saw earlier the BNP-Jamaat activists had unleashed a reign of terror centering the Jan 5. But they would not be allowed to do so this time in the name of waging political programme,” he said.
Besides, the AL has decided to hold rallies in two places in the capital despite it had earlier decided to hold rallies in the city’s 18-points to mark the much-talked about Jan 5 general election as the Victory Day of Democracy.
“We took the decision of holding rallies in the city’s two places instead of 18-points considering the traffic management of Dhaka city. You saw the capital was almost standstill yesterday due to the 68th founding anniversary of Bangladesh Chhatra League,” AL office secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap told yesterday.
However, on January 5, 2014, AL assumed in office for the second times consecutively where 153 representatives of 10th parliament elected unopposed as the country’s major political party BNP had boycotted the elections.
Since then AL decides to observe the January 5 as the ‘Victory Day of Democracy’ while BNP chooses the day as the ‘Democracy Killing Day’.
Meanwhile, at an extending meeting at the party headquarters, AL joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif warned that the people of the country will give a befitting reply to the leaders and workers of BNP if they try to create anarchy in the country in the name of observing political programme on the day.
At the same the AL leader also called upon the party leaders and workers to make the party announced programme over the January 5, a success.
Sources said the BNP is taking massive preparation to make today’s rally, first of its kind after its early last year’s movement, a success. The party wants to stage huge showdown to mark the day.
AS part of the preparation, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, who will address the gathering as chief guest, yesterday held a meeting with party senior leaders to discuss party strategies to make the rally a success.
Earlier, addressing a press briefing party acting secretry general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that they want to hold the rally in a peaceful manner.
“The BNP will not go for any violent programme,” he said after a meeting with leaders of city BNP and party’s associate organisaitons.
The BNP leader further said they want to hold the rally wherever the government gives them permission.
Field level leaders were given instruction from the meeting to ensure joining of party workers and supporters from all level to make th rally a success. Leaders and activists from Savar, Ashulia, Narayanganj, and Munshiganj were also asked to partiicapte in the programme, insidres said.
According to conditions laid down by police the meetings must be held within the area which police will make a cordon.
Police activists will not be allowed to come to the meeting with procession. They will not also allow carrying any sticks in the name of carrying banner or festoon. Meeting can not be hold creating traffic jam. However, a DMP officer on condition of anonymity said, if the meeting venue was overflowed, they will allow the parties to use one lane of the road adjacent to their party offices. Meeting will be allowed between 2:pm and 5:pm, according to DMP Media and Public Relations officials.
DMP will not permit to use loudspeakers in the areas except the police permitted areas, they said.
Last year, the BNP called for a three-month long blockade and hartal programmes that turned into a violent action leaving about 100 people killed.
