BNP’s much-discussed last divisional rally in Dhaka has begun with participation of thousands of leaders and activists of the party. The rally, arranged by Dhaka south and north city units of BNP, began at 11 am this morning (December 10, 202) at Golapbagh field near Sayedabad. The party is supposed to deliver messages from the rally for a simultaneous anti-government movement in the run up to the next general election. Read more: Golapbagh venue teeming with BNP leaders, activists all set for rally Though the party formally got permission to organise the rally at the venue around 3pm on Friday, Golapbagh ground was teeming with BNP activists and followers by Friday evening – as they reached in advance with much enthusiasm. The crowd continued to spill over onto nearby streets. Senior BNP leaders, including standing committee members, will address the rally. Read More: BNP set to hold rally in Dhaka to start simultaneous anti-govt movement As party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was sent to jail, BNP’s senior-most standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain will address the rally as chief guest and announce the next course of action.

Amid a tense situation and speculations over BNP’s December 10 rally, the party’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said they will hold their rally at Nayapaltan on December 10 as planned earlier. He announced the decision at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office this afternoon. BNP announced the decision a day after a fierce clash between their party activists and police in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office yesterday left one person dead and many injured. “Wait and see what happens in Dhaka, people have started to wake up,” he said while responding to a question from reporters. “It is the government’s responsibility to ensure the rally is held peacefully. We will consider if the government offers a suitable alternative venue,” he said. Read more: Fakhrul visits Makbul’s body at DMCH morgue, condoles his family He also demanded that the government reopen the BNP office and withdraw police from the area immediately. He said their new action programme will be announced next week to realise their demands, including the resignation of the government, dissolution of the parliament, and reestablishment of the caretaker government. “Police attacked BNP leaders and activists without any provocation. Such a cowardly attack is unimaginable. Police unwarrantedly entered BNP office with bombs in a bag,” said Fakhrul. He said Wednesday’s police attack was tantamount to putting the last nail in the coffin of democracy. Police vandalised furniture and valuables of the office and took away important documents of the party, he alleged. Read more: BNP will hold Dec 10 rally at Nayapaltan, Fakhrul says He said that policemen kept the bombs in the office and staged the drama. “Then police claimed they recovered explosives from BNP office and declared the area a ‘crime scene’.” He said their party sought permission for holding the rally at Nayapaltan, but police gave permission to hold it at Suhrawardy Udyan which was not acceptable to BNP. DMP commissioner phoned BNP leader Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie to talk about an alternative venue, but he was arrested, said Fakhrul.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Hasan Mahmud said on Friday that it is unrealistic and illusory to discuss whether Khaleda Zia will join the BNP’s December 10 rally in Dhaka. He came up with the remark while responding to queries from journalists after attending a reunion function of Govt Hajji Mohammad Mohsin College at Navy Convention Centre in  Chattogram, as chief guest. "The government will be bound to send her (Khaleda Zia) to jail if they (BNP) think about taking her to the rally,” he said adding that Khaleda Zia is now out jail for benevolence of Premier Sheikh Hasina as the court didn’t grant her bail.   Read: Govt helping BNP to make Dhaka rally a success: Info Minister Asked about the rally venue, the information minister said “BNP became sure that not more than 50,000 people will attend the rally, hence they want to hold it in Nayapaltan.” “BNP does not want to hold the rally in Suhrawardy Udyan as the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman proclaimed the country’s independence from there and occupying Pakistani army surrendered also,” he said. Replying to a question, Hasan Mahmud, also joint secretary general of the Awami League, said people will resist the BNP if they try to create anarchy from the rally. He said several lakhs of people will throng at the premier’s rally at the Pologround which will break all previous records. President of Mohsin College Alumni Association and Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industries Mahbubul Alam chaired the programme where vernacular Dainik Azadi Editor and Ekushey Padak Recipient MA Malek spoke among others.

The venue of BNP's divisional rally scheduled to be held in Dhaka on December 10 will be decided by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said. The minister said this while talking to journalists at his Secretariat on Sunday (November 20). BNP is a political party, so its leaders and activists definitely know the procedures and we hope they hold the meeting by maintaining law and order. If they break the law or destroy properties, the security forces will take action, added the minister. Read: After 7 successful rallies, Fakhrul declares: ‘No election in Bangladesh without caretaker govt’ "When asked if the government would give permission if the BNP wants to hold a rally in front of the party office, he said, ' BNP wants to gather 25 lakh people at one place. Don't know where they will go? Can you imagine what will happen when 25 lakh people gather somewhere? We have asked the Commissioner (DMP Commissioner) to determine if there is such a big field somewhere in Dhaka and give them permission to hold a meeting there." "Since we are not obstructing political activities, if they organise such a programme, they should do so in a place where so many people can stand," the minister said. The minister said, 'He (DMP Commissioner) should find such a place where so many people can gather. So, he will make arrangements wherever the commissioner wants.