Khaleda to address opposition rally

Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia is expected to address a rally in the capital’s Motijheel area on Saturday in the backdrop of the offer made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina proposing a dialogue on the election-time government.

BNP leaders have said all preparations for the 18-Party rally have been completed.

“The BNP Chairperson will make an important speech on the overall political situation and the huge loss of lives at the Savar tragedy,” Khaleda’s Press Secretary Maruf Kamal Khan said.

At a press conference on Friday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government had no objection to forming an all-party election-time government.

She had urged her arch political rival to sit for poll-time talks. The BNP-led alliance had been waging street protests demanding that the caretaker government provision, annulled through the 15th Constitutional Amendment, be reinstalled.

Khaleda’s advisor Shamsuzzaman Dudu had said the opposition was ready for talks if the government agreed to its caretaker demand and put forth a proposal in writing.

Hasina, also the Awami League President, has criticised such preconditions. Party’s General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam has said they would like to hear the BNP chief to speak about the proposal and then send a formal proposal.

Khaleda is expected to address the rally amid the on-going discussions over dialogues. Hasina had urged the opposition to defer its Saturday’s rally to facilitate rescue operations at Savar.

Over 500 people, mostly female readymade garment workers, are killed in the worst ever industrial disaster.

The rally will kick off at around 2pm and the Opposition Leader is expected to reach the rally venue at around 3:30pm, party leaders said. It will be her first public rally in Dhaka after last year’s June 11 rally in the capital.

BNP’s metropolitan unit chief and former Dhaka City Corporation Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka will preside over the meeting. Top leaders of the alliance will deliver speeches.

Dhaka Metropolitan BNP’s Member Secretary Abdus Salam told bdnews24.com all preparations have been completed to hold the rally.

He said members of the party’s cultural front JASAS will sing songs before the beginning of the programme.

Security has been ramped up ahead of the rally. Police have set up close circuit cameras around the venue.

BNP leaders said a 2,500 strong volunteer team of the party will be engaged in maintaining order.

It has alleged the government was creating problems in a bid to cut the number of participants, a charge the ruling party leaders have denied.

Police had nodded the rally but slapped 13 conditions.