Ban on gathering in Gazipur is a govt ploy: BNP

The BNP has criticised a decision to ban gatherings in Gazipur a day before Khaleda Zia's planned rally there.

"It's part of a government ploy to thwart the rally," BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Friday.

Gazipur district administration imposed Section 144 at Bhawal Badre Alam Government College grounds and surrounding areas from 2pm Friday.

The area has been tense after ruling Awami League student front announced to thwart Khaleda's rally.

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) demanded an apology from Khaleda's son Tarique Rahman for dubbing Bangladesh's founding father a 'Razakar'.

The BNP-led alliance, which boycotted Jan 5 polls, has organised a slew of rallies across Bangladesh to press for a snap election.

Fakhrul claimed they had got rally permission.

"But the government won't let the opposition to hold rally," he alleged.

BNP's banners and festoons at the venue were vandalised on Tuesday.

BCL activists took out processions on Thursday and hung their banners at the venue.

Gazipur Superintendent of Police Harun-or-Rashid on Friday said they had imposed Section 144 to avert tension.

Meanwhile, the BNP has called an emergency meeting of its policymakers to chalk out an action plan.

It will be held at Khaleda's Gulshan office on Friday evening, Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said.

SP Rashid said, "We're not allowing anyone [to organise a rally] as they could not reach a consensus."