BNP claims being barred from holding rallies seven times in last three years

The Awami League-led government seems to be following a double standard in order to corner BNP, party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said.

At a media briefing on Monday, Fakhrul slammed the ruling party for denying them permission to hold a rally at capital’s Suhrawardy Udyan on Jan 7.

The party had planned to hold the rally to bash Jan 5, the day Awami League rose to power through a national election BNP had boycotted in 2014.

BNP, the major opposition outside Parliament, terms the day as “the death of democracy day” while Awami League celebrates it as “triumph of democracy day.”   

“We were denied permission to hold rally on Jan 7. This is nothing new. Police have denied us permission to hold any kind of rally seven times so far since Jan 5, 2014,” Fakhrul said.

Describing the BNP as the largest political party of the country, Fakhrul said: “It is better if you (government) declare two sets of rules: one for Awami League, one for the rest of the population.”

“You do not let us hold demonstrations … you drive our volunteers away from streets with sticks. But you bring out processions and hold rallies regularly,” he said.

The leader alleged that Awami League supporters created a chaos in front of the BNP headquarters at Naya Paltan on Jan 5 during the ruling party’s celebration of the third anniversary of the 10th National Polls.

The BNP leader criticised the government over “the deteriorating condition of law and order” in the country.

“A person has been tortured inside police station for bribe. This is not just one case. There are several others,” he said adding “Every one is in a state of fear as all hell can break loose on them anytime.”