The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will give permission to the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to organise a grand rally in Dhaka. However, the police authorities are undecided as yet regarding the venue in the capital city where the party would be allowed to hold its grand rally on 28 October.
The BNP seeks to organise the rally in front of its party headquarters in Naya Paltan in Dhaka. The party on 18 October announced the rally and sought permission from the DMP on 21 October.
DMP sources, however, said it may not give permission to the BNP to organise the rally at Naya Paltan. Instead, the party may be requested to hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan or at Golapbagh ground near the Sayedabad Bus Terminal.
The police may put forth the reason of traffic jam in the city to the party for this, saying that a huge number of people would arrive in Dhaka to join the rally.
DMP joint commissioner (operations) Biplab Kumar Sarker on Monday told Prothom Alo, “BNP has applied to the commissioner seeking permission to hold a rally. We’re discussing the matter.”
Police do not have any negative attitude to the rally of the BNP but the force would maintain a strong stance to ensure security of the city dwellers, he added.
Such a situation emerged over the spot of a rally of the BNP on 10 December last year. After several rounds of discussion between the BNP leaders and DMP top brass, the party was permitted to organise the rally at Golapbagh ground just before the day of the rally.
The 28 October rally of BNP is being considered as a very significant issue especially since the party has been waging a movement to enforce its singular demand of resignation of the movement for over a year.
The governing Awami League also has announced to organise a ‘peace and development’ rally at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on the same day, fearing that the BNP may announce a sit-in in Dhaka that day.
A source from DMP’s DB informed Prothom Alo that a meeting was held four days earlier over the rally of BNP. The DMP commissioner chaired the meeting. It was discussed in the meeting that BNP would be given permission to hold the rally at an alternative venue other than the Naya Paltan. However, there is no intelligence information of sabotage centring the grand rally.
Police, however, have been asked to take preparations to face all types of situations, the source added.
Wishing to remain anonymous, a high official of DMP’s Wari Zone told Prothom Alo that BNP might be given permission to organise the rally at Golapbagh ground. They have been asked to prepare to that end, the official added.
Meanwhile, the spree of arrest of BNP leaders and activists before the rally in Dhaka has been continuing. BNP claimed police arrested 30 of their leaders and activists including Dhaka south city BNP joint convener Yunus Mridha between Saturday and Sunday evening.
Earlier, as many as 326 people were arrested from Tuesday evening to 3:00 pm on Thursday.
The raids could be more frequent after the Durga Puja, a source of DB informed Prothom Alo.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, police headquarters’ DIG (operations) Anwar Hossain said legal actions would be taken if anyone deteriorates law and order situation and try to damage lives and properties.