BNP rejects last minute permission for rally

The BNP has been given permission to hold its rally on Tuesday, at the last moment, and against 27 conditions.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 8 Nov 2016, 10:06 AM
Updated : 8 Nov 2016, 11:36 AM

The party had been shifting the date for holding its rally for its ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’ after receiving no response from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

The permission granted on Tuesday was for the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) but the BNP said it never applied for that venue.

It instead wants to hold its programme at the Suhrawardy Udyan on Nov 13.

On Friday, the BNP was denied permission to hold the rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan on Nov 7.

"No party will be allowed to hold programmes at Suhrawardy Udyan neither on Nov 7 or Nov 8,” said DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Masudur Rahman.

More than one party announced similar programmes on those days and at the same venue, he said.

The BNP then requested the authorities to let them hold the rally in front of the party’s Naya Paltan headquarters.

The DMP did not respond and the party said was willing to shift plans to Nov 9.

There was no response and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, on Tuesday afternoon, announced plans for holding its programmes at Suhrawardy Udyan on Nov 13.

Within few hours DMP Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman said the BNP can hold its rally on Tuesday afternoon considering it meets 27 conditions. 

But the permission was just for the programme and not for the venue. The BNP will have to seek separate permission from the IEB for using its venue, he said.

The DMP also said the rally activities must be limited to the IEB and the party will have to wrap up before 4pm.