BNP-led alliance’s rally begins at Suhrawardy Udyan

BNP-led 18-Party alliance’s rally has started at Suhrawardy Udyan with the speech of an Islami Chhatra Shibir leader.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 22 Nov 2013, 11:22 AM
Updated : 22 Nov 2013, 01:44 PM

Islami Chhatra Shibir is the student affiliate of Jamaat-e-Islami, which allegedly opposed the birth of Bangladesh in 1971.

Office Secretary of the Shibir's Central Committee Atikur Rahman was the first to address the rally, which started at 3pm, following the recitation of Qur’an.

The rally is part of the Opposition’s alliance’s countrywide programme protesting the formation of the ‘all-party’, poll-time cabinet and demanding the next polls under a ‘non-party’ caretaker cabinet.

Leaders and activists from various areas joined the rally in small processions.
Police on Nov 8 had arrested BNP Standing Committee members Moudud Ahmed, MK Anwar and Rafiqul Islam Mia.
Later that night, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Advisor Abdul Awal Mintoo and Special Assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas too were arrested.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the rally would also demand the release of all BNP leaders and activists, including the five senior leaders.
BNP Vice Chairman and convenor of the Dhaka City BNP Sadeque Hossain Khoka is presiding over the meeting.
Security has been beefed up in the area in view of the rally.
Uniformed police and plainclothes law enforcers have been largely deployed around Suhrwardy Udyan and Institution of Engineers.
Police have halted vehicular movement along the road from Shahbagh to Matsya Bhaban due to the rally.