Jatiya Party has postponed its rally in front of its central office in Kakrail tomorrow due to a ban on gatherings imposed by the DMP in the area. The party announced the decision in a statement issued on Friday night, signed by Khandaker Delwar Jalali, JP chief’s press secretary. DMP bans rallies in Dhaka's Kakrail, surrounding areas tomorrow  In the statement, the Jatiya Party said that it will announce further programmes at a later date. “Jatiya Party made this decision respecting the law as Dhaka Metropolitan Police imposed a ban on all meetings, rallies, processions, marches, and demonstrations in Kakrail and surrounding areas on Saturday,” it said in the statement. Earlier on the day the DMP banned all types of public gathering in the capital's Kakrail and surrounding areas hours after Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader said the previously scheduled rally would go ahead as planned tomorrow, despite yesterday’s attack. “We’ll see how far they’ll go to stop us”: GM Quader On Thursday evening, unidentified miscreants set fire to the Jatiya Party (JP) central office in Dhaka's Kakrail area. According to eyewitnesses, a group of individuals—many wearing helmets and armed with sticks—entered the JP office through the main entrance. Chanting slogans, they tore down banners and festoons, vandalized furniture, and then set fire to the building's front and several rooms inside.  

Five people including four officials of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) PLC sustained bullet injuries in a clash between two groups of the bank in front of its head office in Motijheel area of Dhaka on Sunday (August 11, 2024). Four of the injured identified as officials Mamun, Abdur Rahman, Baki Billah and godown guard Shahfiullah Sardar are now undergoing treatment at a hospital. Sources said some officials under the banner of ‘Anti-Discrimination Banker Society’ were trying to hold a rally in front of the head office in the morning. Read more: Islami Bank continues to reject cheques of ‘suspicious companies’ Some bank officials, who work for the S Alam Group, barred them from holding the rally, resulting in a scuffle between them, they said. At one stage, shots were fired at the protesters, leaving five people injured, they said. A tense situation has been prevailing in and around the bank following the incident. Motijheel Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Abul Kalam Azad could not be reached over mobile phone despite repeated attempts. Read more: Executives appointed by S Alam will not be allowed to enter Islami Bank: CBA of the bank

The Traffic Department of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has advised residents of some areas to start for early to beat possible disruptions due various street programmes on Sunday (July 07, 2024). In a press note on Sunday morning, it mentioned that a rally is scheduled to be brought out marking the Hindu community’s religious festival Ratha Yatra in the city and it will parade several roads of Dhaka. Read more: DMP to commuters: Leave for work early to avoid possible traffic jams Moreover, the city dwellers may face traffic jams due to some important events and ongoing anti-quota movement. Hence, the Traffic Department requested residents of Ramna, Motijheel and Wari areas to hit the streets with time in hand.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (February 12, 2024) asked the members of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) to stand with courage and sincerity to resist any ill attempt to ensure public security. “As the largest force in the country, you have to rightly perform the duty bestowed upon you. You will have to resist any evil move to protect the public safety. You should do it with honesty, courage and sincerity,” she said.    The prime minister made this call while addressing the 44th national rally-2024 of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP at Bangladesh Ansar-VDP Academy in Shafipur, Gazipur. She said it is a sacred duty of her government to ensure security to the people and investment, and uphold peace. Read more: PM directs to be active on GI products “To maintain political stability, proper economic environment and continuation of democratic governance are prerequisites for the overall development of the country,” she said, asking all to uphold such an environment in the country. Focusing on the country’s development attained during her government,  Hasina said Bangladesh now has capacity to tackle any situation. The PM requested all to work hard with honesty to continue the country’s development journey.    She recalled the contribution of the country’s largest force Ansar-VDP, having 61 lakh members and 42 battalions including two women battalions and a specialised battalion, to ensuring security to public and private structures and organisations.     Read more: Explore new markets for Bangladesh's export items: PM Hasina tells BGMEA The prime minister said if Ansar is asked to perform duty for any national cause, they do it properly. “Even now our Ansar members have been discharging their duties with very competence in various important places starting from different foreign embassies stationed in Bangladesh,” she said. She appreciated the role of Ansar members to protect the country’s assets, including that of Bangladesh Railways from arson violence unleashed by BNP-Jamaat group in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2023. Highlighting her government’s steps to modernise the Ansar and VDP,  Hasina said now the force is now earning fame at home and abroad. “We’ve been working to develop the Ansar and VDP,” she said. The PM reiterated her government’s conviction to protect the country from terrorism, militancy and drugs. “Our drive against corruption will always continue,” she said. She hoped the Ansar and VDP will continue their duty in containing the social diseases in future as well. Mentioning her government’s vision 2041 to build a Smart Bangladesh, PM Hasina said Ansar and VDP will also be developed as a smart force and will continue working for the development of the country. She said the government will make every village a smart and safe locality in Smart Bangladesh. On her arrival at the rally venue, the prime minister was received by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Major General AKM Aminul Haque. The Prime Minister inspected a parade of Ansar and VDP from an open jeep and received salute. She handed over eight types of special medals to 180 Ansar and VDP members for their bravery and praiseworthy services. The medals are Bangladesh Ansar Medal, President Ansar Medal, Bangladesh VDP Medal, President VDP Medal, Bangladesh Ansar Services Medal, President Ansar Services Medal, Bangladesh VDP Services Medal and President VDP Services Medal. The PM later witnessed a colourful cultural programme performed by Ansar and VDP members.

Awami League President  Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday requested all voters to go to the polling centres early in the morning and cast their ballots for 'boat' to let her party serve them again. “The election will be held on January 7. Please go to the polling centres early morning with other voters and cast your votes for boat (the electoral symbol of Awami League,” she said. The prime minister said this while addressing a public rally at Taraganj Degree College. Her younger sister Sheikh Rehana was present on dais. She said that boat is the symbol of the boat of Prophet Nuh that saved the human race during the Great Flood, “This boat gave your independence and developed your living standard,” she said. “Will you cast your votes for the boat? Promise me, please raise your hands,” she asked while the audience raised their hands and chanted slogans for the AL election symbol. She also introduced Awami League nominated candidate for Rangpur-2 constituency Abul Kalam Mohammad Ahasanul Huq Chowdhury (Duke) at the rally and requested all to vote for him. Read: ‘PM sounded sincere about ensuring infrastructure facilities enabling those with disabilities to move independently’ Referring to numerous implemented development programmes of the government in the last 15 years, Hasina said that it was possible for the government as the people gave votes for her party in the last three elections. She also said that there are some development programmes left unfinished to materialise the dream of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. These are to make the country free from homeless and landless people and eradicate poverty completely, she said.  

Additional Commissioner of Detective Branch (DB) Harun-or-Rashid has said that some BNP activists attacked police in front of the Judges' Residence Complex in Dhaka’s Kakrail earlier today (October 28, 2023).  “Some policemen were injured. Furthermore, they carried out an attack, vandalised and set some vehicles on fire in front of IDB Bhaban at Kakrail,” he said while talking with reporters in front of Kakrail Church.  Currently, BGB members are deployed at Kakrail Church crossing. He said police have video footage of the incidents. “We will identify those involved and take appropriate action,” he said. Police, BNP men clash in Dhaka’s Kakrail area, police box set on fire The BNP activists who were engaged in violence escaped the scene, and the situation is now under control, he added. Earlier, a chase and counter-chase between police and BNP leaders, activists occurred in Dhaka’s Kakrail area. Witnesses said leaders and activists of BNP brought out a procession in the Kakrail area and started going towards InterContinental hotel around 1 pm. At one stage, police obstructed them, and BNP leaders, activists started throwing brick chips at the law enforcers. More than 50 detained in extensive search operations at Dhaka’s entry points Later, police fired rubber bullets, used sound grenades and tear gas shells to disperse them. The grand rally of BNP has begun in front of its Nayapaltan central office with the participation of thousands of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies to press home their one-point demand for holding the upcoming national election under a non-party government. AL, BNP rallies: 3 vehicles vandalised in Dhaka

A tense situation has been prevailing in Dhaka’s Nayapaltan area today (October 28, 2023) as police, RAB, members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) are at the rally venue in the afternoon. Sherpur-Dhaka bus services suspended They also fired rubber bullets, used sound grenades and tear gas shells to disperse them. Police, BNP men clash in Dhaka’s Kakrail area, police box set on fire The grand rally of BNP has begun in front of its Nayapaltan central office with the participation of thousands of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies to press home their one-point demand for holding the upcoming national election under a non-party government. More than 50 detained in extensive search operations at Dhaka’s entry points The rally formally began around 12:40 pm with recitation from the holy Quran.

The presence of public transport and other vehicles on Dhaka streets today (October 28) is relatively thin compared to other days, as tensions escalated surrounding the two big parties’ announced programs, causing immense commuting woes. People who depend on public transport for their daily commute have been hit hard due to few vehicles on the roads. Panic has gripped people over the scheduled rallies of BNP and Awami League in the capital. Most are preferring to stay home unless they have any urgent work. Thousands gather at Dhaka’s Nayapaltan for BNP’s grand rally Though the day is a government holiday, those who work in private organizations are facing severe commuting problems. The number of private cars, rickshaws and other vehicles on the streets are also few. Streets in Shanir Akhra, Kakrail, Shantinagar, Mouchak, Dholaipar, Jatrabari, Sayedabad, Gulistan, Purana Paltan, and Jatiya Press Club areas have few public transport. Many were seen waiting for buses to reach their respective destinations. Fakhrul intends peaceful grand rally, warns govt against excesses No long route buses left from Gulistan. Contacted, Joint Commissioner (Traffic-North) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Abu Saleh Md Raihan told UNB that the number of vehicles including public buses is low compared to other days. Mariful Hasan, who had to commute to his office in Mouchak from Shewrapara, said, “I boarded a bus from Shewrapara which dropped me at Bijoy Sarani. Getting no public transport at that point, I decided to walk to Farmgate. Later, I managed to board a bus to Mouchak.” Like Mariful, Rahul, who also worked for a private company, said he had to change transport twice to reach his office from Keraniganj. Kaniz Fatema said she took a CNG-run three wheeler from Narayanganj to her office in Dhaka due to the lack of public transport. Passengers suffer due to suspension of bus movement between Dhaka and Mymensingh ahead of BNP rally Police and RAB personnel were seen patrolling the roads while a number of check-posts were set up to ensure security. Thousands of law enforcers – police, RAB and other agencies – have been deployed in the capital city to prevent possible violence during the rallies. AL and the BNP got permission from Dhaka Metropolitan Police to hold their rallies at their respective venues. Jamaat, however, did not get any go-ahead from DMP for their program.

Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies have gathered in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office to attend the grand rally today (October 28, 2023) to mount pressure on the government to accept their one-point demand. BNP activists started gathering in front of the party's Nayapaltan headquarters this morning amid the presence of a huge number of law enforcers. Defying the senior leaders’ instructions, several thousand opposition activists thronged Nayapaltan on Friday afternoon in advance and stayed there overnight. 200 BNP men detained from under-construction building in Dhaka’s Kakrail area Visiting the rally venue around 9 am today, thousands of opposition activists were seen coming from different parts of the city. Wearing colourful caps, carrying banners, festoons, placards and portraits of the party’s top leaders, they were shouting anti-government slogans as they converged on the venue. The roads and alleys stretching from Kakrail to Arambagh are filled to the brim with BNP activists, halting traffic in the area. Many leaders and activists of the party alleged that they had to face checking and barricades by law enforcers at the entry points and several locations in Dhaka while presence of buses on the streets was very thin. BNP and its allies set to hold rallies as part of their ‘final push’ BNP’s Dhaka north and south city units are organizing the rally to press home the opposition’s one-point demand for holding the upcoming national election under a non-party government. The rally is scheduled to formally begin at 2 pm with BNP’s Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas in the chair.  Panic grips capital city as AL and BNP flex muscles ahead of Saturday’s rallies BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will address the programme as the chief guest. Apart from BNP, other like-minded political parties and alliances have also made preparations to arrange separate rallies in different parts of the city to press home the one-point demand. Fakhrul intends peaceful grand rally, warns govt against excesses 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 km away from BNP’s rally at Nayapaltan.  After taking much time, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) finally gave Awami League and BNP permission on Friday evening to hold their rallies in the capital’s Baitul Mukarram’s South Gate and Nayapaltan respectively on 20 conditions. Passengers suffer due to suspension of bus movement between Dhaka and Mymensingh ahead of BNP rally

Detectives have detained 200 leaders and activists of BNP, believed to have gathered for the party’s grand rally today, from an under-construction building in Dhaka’s Kakrail area early today (October 28, 2023). Salahuddin Mia, officer-in-charge of Paltan Model Police Station, said a team of Detective Branch (DB) police conducted a drive in Kakrail at night. Harun-or-Rashid, additional commissioner of DB under Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said some crude bombs were exploded in the area. AL, BNP get conditional permission for rallies After hearing the sounds of explosion, police and DB conducted a drive at an under-construction building and detained 200 leaders and activists of BNP, he said. They came from different parts of the country ahead of BNP’s grand rally, he added. BNP and its allies set to hold rallies as part of their ‘final push’ Police also recovered a vehicle owned by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, placards, cooking items, sticks, iron rods and some unexploded crude bombs from the spot, the DB official said. Rajib Al Masud, deputy commissioner of DB Motijheel Division, said that 15-20 bombs were hurled from the under-construction building targeting police around 1:30 am. “Police are trying to arrest those involved in the incident,” he said. Panic grips capital city as AL and BNP flex muscles ahead of Saturday’s rallies Two policemen were injured in the explosion and they were taken to Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital, said Harun. “Our goal was to ensure that no one creates any untoward incident centering BNP’s grand rally. There are 7-8 such buildings and many people have gathered in those buildings, from what we’ve heard. We’ll conduct drives there as well,” he added.