BNP denied permission to hold rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on Nov 8

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has denied BNP permission for holding a rally at Dhaka's Suhrawardy Udyan on Nov 8 on the ground that more than one party have announced to hold public rally on the same venue.

The main opposition party outside the parliament had originally sought permission from the administration to hold a rally at the venue on Nov 7 to mark the 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day'. 

But following a threat from a ruling party leader, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday announced that they would hold the programme to Nov 8.

DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Masudur Rahman told bdnews24.com on Friday that "No party will be allowed to hold any programme at Suhrawardy Udyan neither on Nov 7 or Nov 8.”

He said more than one party have announced similar programmes on the dates and at the same venue forcing the authorities to take this decision.

The DMP officials however did not say which other party had applied for holding rally on the venue that coincide with BNP’s rally.

On Nov 7, 1975 an uprising following a coup catapulted Maj Gen Ziaur Rahman to power. The BNP commemorates the day as ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’.

On Monday, Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif had said a BNP rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on Nov 7 would be prevented.

He added that those who were behind Bangabandhu's assassination observe Nov 7 as a day of revolution to cover up the Nov 3, 1975 killing of four Awami League leaders in jail.

After the assassination of Bangabandhu and his family members on Aug 15, 1975, army Chief Ziaur Rahman who was put under house arrest at the cantonment then, was released on Nov 7. Later he took power as the president and formed BNP.

Awami League does not recognise the occasion and instead refers to Nov 7 as ‘Freedom Fighters Massacre Day’. 

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSaD), now an ally of the Awami League, observes it as the 'Day of Uprising of Soldiers and People'.

BNP, the party of late apparently struggling to hold its parts together, targeted the rally as a means to recoup its strength through a mass gathering.

On Oct 29 BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called upon the party activists to ensure a major turnout at the Suhrawardy Udyan.

Convener of BNP Dhaka metropolitan unit Mirza Abbas said: "The Nov 7 rally needs to be a memorable one. Committees from all levels must work together to make the rally a success."

The party had been alleging the government of violating their rights to freedom of expression.

Awami League leaders on the other hand claim that BNP was planning to create anarchy in the name holding rally.