Staff Reporter :
The BNP is now seeking permission for staging its rally on November 8 instead of November 7 at the Suhrawardy Udyan. The leaders accused, however, the government of harassing the party men ahead of the rally.
BNP Senior Joint-Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said it on Thursday while addressing a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan office.
“We have sought permission from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police to hold a rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan on November 8 to mark the National Revolution and Solidarity Day,” Rizvi said.
The BNP leader urged the administrations to give them permission as early as possible so that they can take proper preparations to stage the programme.
Replying to a question about their next course of action if the authorities do not allow them to stage the rally, Rizvi expressed optimism about the permission.
“There is no question of denying the permission. We will surely be allowed,” he said.
Earlier, BNP wanted to hold the rally on November 7, but some leaders of ruling Awami League have threatened to resist it.
Earlier the BNP leaders expressed rigid stance to hold the rally on November 7 by any means.
Rizvi alleged that the law enforcers are raiding the houses of BNP men and threatened them not to observe November 7.
Rizvi condemned the action. He said, “it is a heinous example of using the state tools to protect the government’s illegal power.”
The BNP leader alleged that the government is playing with the poor in the name of selling rice at Tk 10 per kg. He said that the main motive of the move is to create a scope for ruling party men to make quick money.
He also condemned the government’s move to introduce package VAT system saying it will make the small businessmen bankrupt.
BNP leader Abdus Salam, Khairul Kabir Khokon, Bilkis Jahan Shirin, Abdus Salam Azad, Taiful Islam Tipu and Belal Ahmed, among others, were present.
