Staff Reporter :
Police on Thursday foiled BNP’s sit-in programme in front of the National Press Club in the capital. Protesting this the party announced staging of demonstration in every thana of the city on Saturday.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir demanded resignation of the government for obstructing the party’s peaceful programme.
As part of the nationwide sit in programme in demand of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s unconditional release from jail, the party leaders and activists joined the peaceful assembly in front of the National Press Club around 10:40am.
The programme was scheduled to end by 12 midday. But police chased the demonstrating activists at 11:45am to disperse.
Police detained Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal Dhaka North City unit President Mizanur Rahman Raj and two others from the programme.
Raj tried to escape arrest by hugging Mirza Fakhrul, but plainclothes police was undaunted.
In a press briefing at the party’s Naya Paltan office around 1:00pm, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the new protest programme at each thana of Dhaka metropolitan on Saturday to protest the police attack on their peaceful sit-in programme.
“They arrested sorting out those who are in leading position in the party. What kind of democracy is that?” Mirza Fakhrul questioned, saying the government is pushing the political environment towards a vulnerable situation.
Mirza Fakhrul said, “The ruling party yesterday staged its rally blocking almost all streets in the city. But they cannot bear our simple programme which we staged totally in peaceful manner.”
The Secretary General said also that their chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on Wednesday directed them to continue movements peacefully avoiding all kinds of provocations.
“The directions must be abided by,” he said.
Khaleda Zia gave such directions while the leaders met her in jail.
The party have programmed rally in each divisional headquarters. As part thereof, the party planned to hold a rally in Khulna on March 10, and another in Dhaka on March 12.
