Terming the opposition’s December 29 programme illogical, State Minister for Home Shamsul Haq Tuku on Wednesday said they have announced this programme to thwart the upcoming national election and the war crimes trial. “We know they (opposition) won’t hold any peaceful programme…their main aim is to carry out sabotage in the country in the name of the programme,” he told UNB. Replying to a query over the opposition’s request to the police and Home Ministry for cooperation with them in holding the ‘March for Democracy’ programme, Tuku said the law-enforcing agencies will take steps seeing the nature of their programme. “Law-enforcing agencies have taken necessary preparations. They’ll resist all kinds of sabotage and violence,” Tuku said. About the ‘mass arrest’ of opposition activists across the country ahead of their countrywide Thursday’s demonstration, the junior minister said the opposition men are being arrested on the basis of specific allegations. “No one was arrested without allegation, and this can’t be called ‘mass arrest’,” he added. Earlier in the day, opposition BNP sought cooperation of the police in staging its ‘March for Democracy’ programme on Sunday towards the capital. BNP sent a letter to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) informing it about the programme and seeking adequate security for the mass gathering in front of its Nayapaltan central office. The party also sent separate letters to the Home Minister, the Home Secretary and the Inspector General of Police seeking cooperation for staging the rally. Earlier, on Tuesday, opposition leader and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia at a press conference announced the ‘March for Democracy’ programme calling upon people from all walks of life to march towards Dhaka carrying the national flag to press home their demand for having an election under non-party neutral administration. –UNB
