Amid growing political tension over the BNP-led 20-party alliance’s scheduled rally on Saturday, the local administration imposed section 144 in Bhawal Badre Alam Government College area on Friday, prohibiting all political programmes at the venue. The ban was imposed following a face-off between BNP and ruling party’ s student wing Bangladesh Chharta League after BCL’s threat to thwart 20-party alliance’s rally at Bhawal Badre Alam Government College compound. Earlier, Superintendent of Gazipur Police Harunur Rashid said no party was given permission to hold rally on the college compound. The police super said this while talking to reporters after a meeting with the high official concerned of local administration at Gazipur Circuit House on Friday morning. “Additional police have been deployed at some important points of the district to maintain law and order,” he added. Local Chhatra League, Jubo League and Sramik League activists were seen holding meetings, rallies and bringing out processions around the Bhawal Badre Alam Government College in the morning vowing to thwart the Saturday’s BNP led 20-party alliance’s rally. Police took position on the Bhawal Badre Alam Government College compound to avert any trouble. Earlier, police in their separate drives arrested seven leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, including the vice president of the local unit of Jubo Dal, from different parts of the city early Friday, ahead of the BNP-led 20-party alliance’s much-hyped Gazipur rally. BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is scheduled to address a public rally on Bhawal Badre Alam Government College compound in the district on Saturday. The district unit of Chhatra League on December 20 warned that they will not allow BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to enter the district until Tarique Rahman apologises for calling Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman a ‘Razakar’. Local BNP leaders also expressed their firm determination to arrange the rally at any cost and continued their mass campaign for the rally. Tarique at a recent programme in London termed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman a ‘Razakar’ for banning Awami League in 1975. –UNB, Dhaka.
