Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student front of the BNP has suspended the holding its Saturday rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the city, as police gave conditional permission late and also, to avoid arrest and possible clash with ruling party ahead of the first anniversary of January 5 poll.
Insiders said the high ups suggested the JCD leaders not to hold rally at Suhrawardy Udyan at this moment as the verbal permission came late when the BNP is planning to stage a huge showdown on January 5 that the party would observe as a black day.“The party high command considers the time as the crucial for them to launch tougher anti-government movement. If any clash takes place centring on the rally, the party will be affected,” said a top JCD leader.
He said the government has been hatching conspiracy to arrest the JCD leaders who were implicated in “false cases”. So, he said if the activists of the organisation are involved in any clash it will affect the party as well as the ongoing movement.”
Talking to reporters the JCD general secretary Akramul Hasan, however, said that they have decided not to organise as they do not have enough time to make the programme successful.
The JCD was scheduled to hold a student gathering at Suhrawardy Udyan marking its 37th founding anniversary where BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was expected to address.
A number of leaders and activists of JCD, student affiliate of the BNP, including its President Rajib Ahsan and General Secretary Akramul Hasan have been accused in cases filed over the recent Bakshibazar clashes.
BNP is planning to hold a rally in the city on January 5 which they have planned to observe as “Democracy Killing Day’.
The ruling Awami League that assumed power through January 5 poll has already announced a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on the day as they would observe it as victory of democracy day.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) was yet to provide permission to BNP till last night to hold its planned rallies on January 3 and 5 in the city in observance of first anniversary of January 5 election that it had boycotted.
A BNP-delegation led by BNP chairperson’s adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo yesterday met police officials but the police did not give any decision about the permission.
The delegation went to DMP office at about 3:00pm. The other members of the delegation included BNP publicity secretary Advocate Joynal Abedin and assistant office secretary Abdul Latif Jony.
Jony told reporters that they had applied to the DMP to hold rallies either at Suhrawardy Udyan, Motijheel Shapla Square or Naya Patan.
“WE have gone to DMP to know the decision of police regarding permission for the rallies,” he said.
The BNP leader said the party delegation could not met the DMP commissioner but they talked to joint commissioner (Crimes and Operation) Shahabuddin Khan and later they returned.
The BNP-led 20-party alliance wants to observe the day as democracy killing day and they plan to stage demonstration and bring out procession carrying back flag.
Meanwhile, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal Friday celebrated its 37th founding anniversary without much fanfare keeping it closed door by cutting a cake at party central office.
JCD sources said they wanted to hold a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on January 2 to mark the day where BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was expected to be the chief guest.
“Finally, we have cancelled the programme as we have not been given permission to hold the rally after 15 days of our application,” said a senior leader of the organisation. – Staff Reporter
