BNP to hold black flag procession today

The de facto opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), along with other like-minded opposition parties, will conduct mass processions with black flags in all divisional cities today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday), demanding the government's resignation. 

The opposition parties have already organised public processions twice in August. Now, they intend to convey an ultimatum to the government, urging its resignation, through these mass processions with black flags. 

Several BNP leaders suggest that a few more similar programmes might follow after the two-day mass procession. 

The two-day programme was announced in protest of the government’s repressive actions against the leaders and activists of the opposition parties and to press their one-point demand for resignation of the government.

As a part of this, the opposition parties will bring out processions from different points of the city simultaneously today.

The opposition parties will hold mass processions in all divisional cities, except Dhaka, tomorrow.

According to the BNP, they are planning separate black flag processions in Dhaka's north and south regions. One of these mass processions will commence from in front of the BNP central office in Naya Paltan and conclude in Dayaganj. Prior to the procession, the main opposition will organize a rally at Naya Paltan. During the rally, BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas will address the attendees as the chief guest. 

The other mass procession will initiate from the Ring Road in Shyamoli and terminate at the Mohammadpur bus stand area. Preceding this, a rally will be conducted at Shyamoli. BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud is slated to be the chief guest at this rally. 

In conjunction with the BNP's activities, the Ganatantra Mancha is also preparing to lead a procession from in front of the National Museum, subsequent to a rally scheduled for 4:00 pm. Prominent Ganatantra Mancha leaders, including ASM Abdur Rab, Saiful Haque, and Zonayed Saki, will deliver speeches during the rally. The procession of the Ganatantra Mancha will end in the New Market area. 

Apart from that, the 12-party alliance will bring out a procession from in front of the Bijaynagar Water Tank and will continue till the Shantinagar intersection at 3:00 pm. At the same time, the Jaitayatabadi Samamana Jote will bring out a procession from Purana Paltan, Liberal Democratic Party from their central office, Ganoforum and People’s Party from in front of the Notre Dame College, Gono Odhikar Parishad from their central office in Purana Paltan, NDM from their central office in Malibagh and Ganotantrik Bam Oikkya from in front of the Segunbagicha School, Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad from the National Press Club, and the AB Party will bring out mass processions from in front of the Sharama Bhaban in Bijaynagar.

Besides, the Labour Party and Samamana Peshajibi Jote will take positions in front of the national press club.

Since the start of the movement with one point demand of resignation of the government on 12 July, the oppositions have held several programmes, including sit-in programmes at four entry points of Dhaka and mass processions.

Earlier, the opposition parties held mass processions on 11 and 18 August. This indicates that the opposition parties have organized processions on each weekend of this month. BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other central leaders participated in these events. However, Mirza Fakhrul will not be attending today's programme as he went to Singapore for medical treatment on Thursday.