BNP warns police of 'facing consequence' for not giving permission to hold rally

The BNP has warned the police of facing the 'consequence' for not giving permission to hold a rally in Dhaka on Nov 13.

Briefing the media on Saturday, senior leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, however, said that they hope police to permit them to hold the rally at the capital's Suhrawardy Udyan.

"The police will have to face the consequence. They will have to answer to the people, if they continue with their undemocratic and unconstitutional attitude," he said.

The BNP senior joint secretary, however, changed his tone immediately."You (the police) do not belong to the Awami League; please act as a force of the people. We are certain that you will cooperate with the BNP on this rally."

Rizvi's press conference was meant to provide the party's reaction as the police are yet to clear their Sunday's rally.

The BNP had sought police's permission to hold a rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan either on Nov 7 or 8 to observe the 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day.'

They had then sought a clearance to hold a rally on Nov 8 in front the party's headquarters at Naya Paltan, but police denied receiving any such letter.

The BNP then announced to hold a rally on Nov 13 (Sunday).

Police had cleared the BNP to hold rally on Nov 8 at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) auditorium, but the BNP rejected it, sticking to its planned rally for Sunday.

On Saturday, Rizvi said, "We want to ask the police once again to clear the BNP's proposed Nov 13 rally."