BNP keeping Dhaka out of Jan 5 programmes

The BNP is organising no programmes in Dhaka on the anniversary of the 10th parliamaentary elections after being denied permission to hold a rally.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 4 Jan 2018, 02:12 PM
Updated : 4 Jan 2018, 02:12 PM

The party, however, would take out black-flag processions at metropolitan, and district and Upazila headquarters outside the capital on Friday, several leaders confirmed to bdnews24.com on Thursday.

The BNP has been marking Jan 5 as ‘Murder of Democracy Day’ since its boycott of the election on that day in 2014 over the demand for a 'neutral, election-time' government.

It had sought permission for a rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on the day, but the authorities denied it permission, citing a programme of another party at the venue.

The BNP then applied to Dhaka Metropolitan Police to organise the rally in the street in front of its headquarters at Naya Paltan.

A BNP delegation, comprising Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s advisers Abdus Salam and Abul Khayer Bhuiyan, and Publicity Secretary Shaheed Uddin Chowdhury Annie, met DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Miah on Thursday afternoon.

After the meeting, Annie told the media that the DMP did not give the all-clear to the rally.

“They requested us not to organise the rally on Friday,” he said.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said they would organise a news briefing at the party’s Naya Paltan offices at 11am on Friday to announce their decision.  

Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said at a discussion on Thursday afternoon that they would publicise the party’s decision on the rally later in the night.

Last year, the BNP organised programmes throughout the country, except Dhaka, on the day.