BNP-led alliance cleared to hold rally Tuesday

The BNP-led 20-Party Alliance has got 'verbal approval' from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police to hold its rally at the capital's Suhrawardy Udyan on Tuesday.

The alliance held a peaceful black-flag march on Saturday in Dhaka and across the country to protest Israel’s attack on Palestinians at Gaza.

Tuesday's rally, a part of their movement to press for fresh elections under a non-party government, will be against the new National Broadcast Policy.

BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday told reporters about getting the verbal clearance from the DMP to hold the rally.

"We received the verbal permission. Police said a written approval letter will be sent in the evening."

The ruling Awami League has ruled out the possibility of a non-party government supervising polls and warned the BNP against inciting any violence during their movement.

The BNP, on the other hand, had said that the programmes would be peaceful if the government refrained from hindering them.

BNP leaders said police had given them permission to hold the rally under certain conditions.

The rally at Suhrawardy Udyan will start around 3pm. The 20-Party Alliance will hold similar programmes in all districts and metropolitan areas in the country.