Both the BNP and Bangladesh Chhatra League have been denied permission to hold rallies at the Bhawal Badre Alam Government College ground in Gazipur, the district administration has said, imposing a ban on all gatherings there.
Published : 26 Dec 2014, 01:50 PM
At the end of a law and order committee meeting at the district Circuit House on Friday, Gazipur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Nurul Islam spoke to the reporters.
"Following a negative comment made about the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from London in the month of victory, this (by Chhatra League) ultimatum was issued. I seek their help to find a solution so that residents of Gazipur may feel relieved.
"If that doesn't happen we will have to take lawful steps. We will not allow things that will disrupt public life."
Usually such tension calls for an enforcement of Section 144 to ban all gatherings. The buzz of that happening in Gazipur has been in the air from Thursday.
An hour before the DC spoke to the reporters, the BNP's acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir claimed that they had completed all the procedures for the permission to hold the Gazipur rally and the local administration had assured them of granting it too.
"We want to make it clear that the rally will be held tomorrow. We'll certainly go to Gazipur tomorrow. Now it is the government's duty to secure the rally of the opposition."
The Gazipur rally had been announced earlier as a part of BNP chief Khaleda Zia's campaign across different districts.
Later, the Awami League's student affiliate, Bangladesh Chhatra League, announced a rally at the Bhawal Badre Alam Government College ground on the same day to thwart the BNP’s gathering following a Tarique Rahman statement.
The Chhatra League activists set fire to BNP banners and festoons at the college ground on Tuesday night and held demonstrations after taking over the ground on Thursday.
Joydepur Police OC Khandaker Rezaul Karim said five platoons of police were deployed at the college ground and in nearby areas on Thursday morning.