BNP’s Dhaka rally: Naya Paltan to be under police control

The government and the ruling Awami League have mounted pressure on the opposition BNP before its last divisional rally in Dhaka on 10 December.

The authorities are still adamant about not allowing the BNP rally at Naya Paltan and the law enforcers are preparing to get tough if the BNP men attempt to throng there without any permission.

The scenario was heard in conversations with the responsible leaders of the ruling party.

The BNP wants to hold the mass rally at Naya Paltan on 10 December, but the ruling party, the government and law enforcers are pushing the de facto opposition into the Suhrawardy Udyan.

There have been discussions as to what policies the government will adopt if the BNP remains rigid in its position for Naya Paltan.

A government source said a large number of police and other law enforcement agencies would take positions in the Naya Paltan area from 9 December to foil any attempt of gathering there.

Besides, the ruling party is planning to ensure its strong foothold in the capital, alongside the law enforcement agencies.

The Dhaka south unit of Awami League has announced a grand rally at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on 9 December. The party may instruct some of the participants to stay in front of its headquarters at the Bangabandhu Avenue until 10 December.

Moreover, the ruling party men will take positions in each ward. The party held a preparatory meeting in this regard at its central office on Friday.

The Dhaka north unit of Awami League also chalked out a wide range of programmes, including peace gatherings and demonstrations, on 9 December.

They do not have any formal programme on 10 December, but are planning to stay in the streets like the previous day. Besides, they may guard the entrances of the capital, including Gabtoli, Ashulia, and Tongi. 

According to sources, the government does not want to face any public outcry by expressing its position directly against the BNP rally. At the same time, it will not allow the BNP to prove their popularity through a successful mass gathering. 

Also, some new strategies might be adopted after observing the activities, preparations and gatherings of the BNP.    

Awami League joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif told Prothom Alo on Friday that the BNP must hold the rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan and there is nothing to do if they do not agree. They will not get permission to hold the rally at Naya Paltan. 

Two senior ruling party leaders said it seemed that the BNP would bring down the government on 10 December and there were whispers among the partymen as well as the masses regarding the issue. 

But, the BNP men are showing flexibility in their speech after the government created pressure on them, they said, adding that the ruling party will prove the BNP on 10 December that the latter is yet to gain enough strength to oust the regime. 

Also, it is quite impossible for the BNP to display organisational strength on the streets if the ruling party does not endorse it, according to them. 

The ruling party sources said if the BNP men stick to holding the rally at Naya Paltan, they must be prepared to overcome the barriers of the police and Awami League. 

The government also made it difficult for the BNP to hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan as it is too tough to hold a big gathering complying with the 26 conditions placed by the police. Besides, it will require at least 200,000 people to fill the Udyan.

It does not seem that the party will be able to gather the required number of people under its own arrangement amid the vigilant guard of the police and Awami League. 

To be specific, the BNP will not be able to make the rally successful following conditions that allow entering the venue just two hours before the event and do now allow any gathering in the adjacent areas. 

A minister, on the condition of anonymity, told Prothom Alo that the BNP has seemingly been in an uncomfortable state regarding the 10 December. This is what the government and Awami League wanted to happen.

He further said BNP, behind the scenes, are discussing the issue with different levels of the government and law enforcement agencies. They were served with a clear message that no rally will be allowed at Naya Paltan. 

Also, there are discussions in the government for allowing the rally at Naya Paltan on the previous evening or night, on some tough conditions. The unprepared BNP will not be able to do anything big with the eleventh hour permission at Naya Paltan. 

Awami League presidium member Kazi Zafar Uliah told Prothom Alo, “BNP wants to hold a rally, right? So where is the problem in Suhrawardy Udyan?”

He believes the BNP will finally hold a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan.

According to Awami League party sources, there is a kind of panic among the people in Dhaka as well as all the countrymen over 10 December. It can naturally reduce the turn out in the BNP rally. 

The sources said the BNP wanted to put pressure on the government centering the 10 December. The government reversed the pressure and left the party in a tight corner by spreading fear and imposing conditions. It will also contain the spontaneous participation of people.

Against such a backdrop, a moderate campaign was carried out on behalf of the BNP that Khaleda Zia might attend the rally. The government sources believe it was done to attract people to the rally as the BNP chairperson is not in a favorable physical state to join the event. The government also replied with a counter-threat that there is no legal ground for Khaleda Zia to join the rally. She has to return to prison if she still joins the rally.

The BNP wants to announce its future programme holding the rally in Dhaka. It can simply be done through a press conference or a small programme. 

But the party wants to paralyse Dhaka through a grand rally and give a message that the masses have no trust in the government and the BNP is the most popular party.  The government and Awami League have no certain information in support of an idea that the BNP would announce a continuous sit-in programme in Dhaka or adopt any destructive method in the name of the rally. 

The government and Awami League want to prevent the BNP from holding a grand rally and make people understand that everything is still under control.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Golam Faruk said the BNP has been allowed to hold a rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan and they will hold the programme there. 

The BNP still sticks to its decision to hold the rally in front of its headquarters in the Naya Paltan area. Asked about this stance, the DMP commissioner said, “'Let the 9th and 10th come, then it will be understood.”

Asked whether the police will be stationed in Naya Paltan on the day, he said, “We will take action on the basis of the situation."