Amid speculations and rising political tensions, BNP is all set to hold its scheduled grand rally at Nayapaltan on Saturday to put pressure on the government to accept the party’s one-point demand.

After buying much time, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) finally gave BNP permission on Friday evening to hold its rally at Nayapaltan.

Apart from BNP, other like-minded political parties and alliances also have taken preparations to arrange separate rallies in different spots in the city to press home the one-point demand that includes the resignation of the Awami League government and holding the next election under a neutral government.

The grand rally of BNP to be arranged by Dhaka south and north city units of the party will formally begin at 2pm where party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will address as the chief guest.

Besides, the ruling Awami League is also scheduled to hold a rally in front of the south gate of Baitul Mukarram mosque, which is 1.7 kilometres away from the BNP’s venue at Nayapaltan.

Political analysts think it will be a daunting task for the law enforcers to maintain peace and fend off any untoward incident as the both opposition and the ruling parties will hold their programmes at short distances and at the same time.

Read: Panic grips capital city as AL and BNP flex muscles ahead of Saturday’s rallies

All eyes will be on the BNP’s rally as speculations are there that the party may announce tougher action programmes like marching towards important government offices or laying siege to these offices in the capital, observing sit-ins in front of the secretariat or the Election Commission and blocking the entrances of Dhaka to force the Awami League government to step down to pave the way for holding the next election under a neutral administration.

Awami League, however, warned that the BNP will face dire consequences if it takes programmes like the blockade in the capital.

Besides, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami also announced to hold a rally at Shapla Chattar. However, the party was not given permission for the programme, triggering an apprehension of violence and clashes with the law enforcers.

Read: Fakhrul intends peaceful grand rally, warns govt against excesses

Meanwhile, many BNP leaders and workers started gathering in front of the party's Nayapaltan central office on Friday afternoon.

Many BNP leaders and activists who reached Dhaka from different parts of the country joined Jummah prayers in mosques around Nayapaltan. Even, many of them offered prayers on the streets at Nayapaltan.

After the Jummah prayers, they squatted on the street in front of the party office amid the presence of a huge number of law enforcers.

The opposition followers were seen chanting various anti-government slogans in front of the BNP office.

Talking to UNB, the BNP followers said they came to the rally venue in advance fearing obstruction on Saturday.

Alongside BNP, Ganatantra Mancha is scheduled to hold a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club, while 12-party alliance at Bijoynagar, Jatiyatabadi Samomona Jote in front of Al Raji Complex at Purana Platan, Gonotantrik Bam Oikya in front of the Jatiya Press Club, Gonoforum and People’s Party at Arambagh, the Liberal Democratic Party at East Panthapath near FDC, Labour Party at Purana Platan, Gono Odhikar Parishad (Reza Kibria) at Culvert Road, Gono Odhikar Parishad (Nur) at Bijoynagar, AB Party at Bijoynagar, Sadaran Chhatra Odhikar Parishad at Shahbag, Jatiyatabdai Peshajibi Parishad in front of the Jatiya Press Club and Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM) at Malibagh.

Read: BNP followers start gathering at Nayapaltan ahead of Saturday’s rally

Earlier on October 18, BNP announced the grand rally in the capital for October 28 to start the 'final phase' of action and programmes of the ongoing movement to topple the current regime, thus paving the way for holding the next election under a non-party neutral government.

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a press conference on Friday reaffirmed that their grand rally will be held peacefully.

 

He urged people from all walks of life to participate in the rally to mount pressure on the government to accept the opposition’s one-point demand that includes the resignation of the current regime and holding the next election under a neutral government.

The BNP leader also warned the government will be held responsible if it or the ruling party makes any excesses and creates any obstacles to the rally.

Fakhrul said they have completed almost all necessary measures to hold the rally.

“We hope that they (DMP) will not create any obstacles in this regard. They will help to remove all kinds of obstacles for the grand rally,” he said

Fakhrul claimed that around 1,350 of their party’s leaders and activists were arrested in just for days from last Monday to 11 am Friday, centring its planned grand rally.

He also said at least 330 opposition leaders and activists were arrested in different parts of the country in the last 24 hours as of 11am on Friday.

The BNP leader also said 18 ‘false cases’ were filed against the BNP leaders and activists during the period.

He said the main objective of their rally is to mount pressure on the current regime to quit and hand over power to a non-partisan government. “We also want good sense to prevail upon the government to create a favourable atmosphere for a fair election by accepting our one-point demand.”

Read: Stage prep underway at Baitul Mukkaram's South Gate for AL’s rally to deter BNP

Replying to a question, Fakhrul said the BNP does not have any fear of violence as their party did similar programmes peacefully in the past.

He, however, alleged that the ruling party leaders are making various provocative statements like taking to the streets with sticks.

 

“On behalf of BNP, we sincerely urge the people to come and join our grand rally on Saturday and to send out a message to the government to quit and not to stay in power anymore,” the BNP leader said.