UNB, Dhaka :BNP on Thursday vowed to hold a rally in the city on Monday (Jan 5), no matter whether the party is given permission or not.”The government has buried democracy by holding the January-5 election only to protect an individual’s interest. Now they’re telling that they’ll celebrate the anniversary of the farcical polls,” said BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.He further said, “We’ve sought permission for holding a rally in Dhaka on January-5 to mark it as democracy annihilating day. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) authorities yesterday told our leaders that they won’t allow us to hold the programme. But we want to clearly state that we must stage the programme.”Rizvi came up with the remarks while celebrating the founding anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) by cutting a cake at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.Earlier in the day, a three-member BNP delegation, led by chairperson’ s adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo, went to the DMP office to talk about the permission of the rally.The two other members of the delegation are BNP publicity secretary Zainul Abedin Farroque and assistant office secretary Abdul Latif Jony.Talking to reporters, Farrqoue said as the new DMP commissioner has gone to Gopalganj the officials said the decision to this end will be made when he will return to Dhaka.He also said the officials at the DMP also suggested them to contact with the DMP commissioner.BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Wednesday at her press conference said the BNP-led 20-party alliance will stage countrywide demonstrations with black flags and hold a rally in the capital on Monday to observe the day protesting the January-5 election.She also hoped the government would allow them to observe their peaceful programme.On December 22, BNP sought permission from the DMP authorities to hold a rally either at Suhrawardy Udyan or in front of its Nayapaltan central office on January 5.Rizvi said the government is using the law enforcers to snatch opposition’s democratic rights.He also alleged the ruling party leaders are trying to mislead people by making false comments that BNP leaders are maintaining secret contact with them.The BNP leader asked the JCD leaders and activists to take all-out preparations to protect democracy and the country’s independence.Late president Ziaur Rahman founded the JCD on January 1, 1979 with a slogan education, unity and development.The JCD leaders and activists will pay homage to Zia’s grave on Friday by placing wreaths, marking its 36th founding anniversary.
