BNP lawyers could not hold their rally on the Supreme Court (SC) premises on Saturday, as police barred them. Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum, a front of BNP, was scheduled to hold the rally in the morning protesting killing of Narayanganj lawyer Chandan Sarker and six others. Police kept all three gates of the court under lock as that none can enter. Pro-BNP lawyers thronged the Mazar Gate in the court area, but could not hold the rally.Some lawyers, who were on the venue since last night, however staged demonstration, leading to scuffle with the police. Police arrested some 17 lawyers from the spot. The arrestees include former president of Dhaka Bar Association Khorshed Alam Mia and its member Advocate Parveen Yeasmin. Earlier on Friday night, police dismantled the podium of the rally. Police said that they obstructed the rally, as the pro-BNP lawyers did not take permission from SC authorities. The organisers, however, claimed that they took permission from the authorities of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), as the rally was scheduled to be held on the SCBA premises. Having failed to hold the rally in the SC area, the pro-BNP lawyers later held the rally the National Press Club at noon. BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia addressed the rally as the chief guest with President of the Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah in the chair. Khaleda Zia came down heavily on the government for obstructing the rally on court premises. The government is patronising the law enforcers in committing crimes to stay in power, she said. She asked the government not to do excesses, as it would not bring anything good for it. “The current illegal regime has lost the ground beneath its feet and got isolated. So, it not allowing our peaceful programme,” she said. She also said that the government is still surviving with the power of gun. The power of gun won’t save ultimately, as the pipe of the gun may turn anytime. So, the government has to quit power, she added. Reiterating her demand for arranging a fresh election under a non-party administration, she warned that if the government makes delay in doing so, the situation might go out of control anytime.The BNP chief said that this ‘illegal’ government has no right to place budget in the ‘illegal’ Parliament’, as there no people’s representatives in the Parliament. There will be no peace, democracy in the country until the ‘illegal’ government goes, she added. Referring to the killing incidents of Narayanganj and Feni, she said that the ruling party is now fighting among themselves over interest. The real culprits who were involved in the incidents have not been arrested yet. Those who have been arrested are kept in “luxurious condition”, she alleged. Citing leaked telephone conversation between Shamim Osman and Noor Hossain, she said the killers of seven-murder in Narayanganj were allowed to go abroad instead of arresting. She demanded arrest and remand of two Hazaris for their alleged link with the killing of Fulgazi upazila chairman. The former premier also alleged that the government is crossing the limit of misrule and misdeeds and said that she would announce street programme in right time.She also renewed her demand for disbanding RAB, saying that this force is now involved in realising ransom, killing people and disappearance. “RAB is now a name of horror to the country’s people,” she said. Accusing the government of using RAB for political purpose, she warned that the current Prime Minister must face trial for this one day.BNP standing committee Barrister Moudud Ahmed and president of SCBA Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain, among others, addressed the rally. Speaking in the rally, Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah, also standing committee member of BNP, announced a four-day programme protesting obstruction of their rally on the SC premises. According to the programme, the lawyers will boycott courts across the country from 10.00 am till 1:00 pm today (Sunday) while they will stage countywide demonstration in the courts tomorrow (Monday), form human chain at all district Bar Association on Tuesday and hold black flag procession on Wednesday.
