BNP says it will accept even if it gets permission to hold rally on Nov 9

The BNP, awaiting the DMP's response to its application to hold a rally in Dhaka, says it will agree even if it gets permission to hold the rally on Nov 9.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 7 Nov 2016, 04:01 PM
Updated : 7 Nov 2016, 04:32 PM

The party had earlier planned a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan to observe 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day' on Nov 7, but the Dhaka Metropolitan Police authorities denied it permission on the ground that ‘another party’ had announced its plans to hold a rally at the same venue on the same day. The DMP did not mention the party.

The BNP said it later sought permission to organise the rally in front of its central office at Naya Paltan on Nov 8. It is still waiting for a decision from the police authorities.

However, DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia said the police authorities had not received any petition, which the BNP terms a ‘false’ claim by the DMP chief.

Against this backdrop, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told a press conference that the party had not got the permission and was ‘still waiting.’

"The rally will be held at Naya Paltan. There is no confusion. We will organise the rally” he told reporters after paying respects to party founder Ziaur Rahman at the latter’s grave on Monday.

"If police think... they will not give us permission for tomorrow (Nov 8), then they could give it for the day after tomorrow (Nov 9). We will hold the rally," the BNP leader said, adding, "If police want to give us the ninth, then they will have to inform us. We need to get prepared."

Rizvi alleged the police were violating democratic rights by not giving the BNP permission to hold the rally or to organise demonstrations.

"They don't have any right to violate these rights," he added.

He also said the police would be considered as the 'government's henchmen' if they did it 'intentionally'.