By Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee & Mohammad Jamil Khan in The Daily Star, Oct 26, 2023
The Awami League is fully prepared to prevent the BNP from resorting to violence centring the October 28 rally, ruling party leaders said.
The leaders and activists of the AL’s Dhaka city, district and thana units have been instructed to take position on the streets and entrances to the capital from early Saturday, said AL insiders.
Meanwhile, police are considering granting permissions to the rival parties for holding rallies that day in open spaces, instead of any street “to avoid possible violence”.
The BNP has sought the Dhaka Metropolitan Police permission to have the rally in Nayapaltan, while the AL at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram.
Jamaat-e-Islami had sought permission to hold a rally at Shapla Chattar the same day, but it has been denied.
Yesterday, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said the BNP has announced through newspapers and social media that its leaders and activists from across the country would come to Dhaka.
“If so many people travel to Dhaka, the situation will be different. That is why our commissioner [of DMP] will decide where the rally can be held,” said the home boss.
The minister said that there is no scope for granting permission to Jamaat if it applies under the banner of Jamaat as it is not a registered political party.
AL MEETING
The AL yesterday held a preparatory meeting for the October 28 rally at its Dhaka district unit office in Tejgaon.
Speaking at the meeting, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader said, “Gayeshwar [BNP leader] has said they will occupy the streets and allies if the permission [for the rally] is not granted. He spoke as if all the doors would be opened to welcome him if the streets and allies were captured. We are absolutely prepared. You will not find a way to escape even in allies.”
Quader said, “We were not in the attack before but we are on guard this time.
“If any attack happens, we will launch a counterattack. We will not spare them. We must stop the evil forces united.”
According to AL sources, the leaders have been instructed to gather on the streets with sticks under the cover of placards, flags, and banners.
If any situation arises, the party supporters will use the sticks. But they will not launch an attack first, the sources added.
The AL leaders have also been asked to enquire about any unknown person roaming around. If necessary, the party supporters would take help from police.
AL Joint General Secretary Bahauddin Nasim said that they have made preparations to mount a counterattack.
“We are mentally prepared to prevent their attacks,” he told The Daily Star.
POLICE PREPARATIONS
Police have planned three-tire security centring the rallies.
Checkpoints will be set up a day before the rallies at all entrances to the capital to check firearms and explosives.
Besides, monitoring of messes and hotels have been beefed up, and social media watch has been strengthened to stop spreading of rumours, officials said.
Police are also planning to hold a meeting with the BNP to discuss details about its rally before making a decision on granting permission.
Kh Mahid Uddin, additional commissioner (crime and operation) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said they will ask the BNP to change the venue.
He hoped that the BNP as a major political party will realise that there would problems if the programme is held on a street.
He said two major political parties are seeking to hold rallies on the same day. “Their leaders and activists will gather at the venues with processions. This would definitely create public suffering on roads.”
About allowing BNP to hold several rallies on the street in front of its Nayapaltan office previously, the DMP additional commissioner said the police earlier requested the party to hold its programmes on weekends using a single lane of the road.
“That was actually the least good option. But we do not want any public suffering and that is why we are discouraging parties from holding rallies on the street.”
Mahid said they give the political parties some conditions for holding the rallies. “We hope that everyone will hold rallies peacefully without violating those conditions. Or else lawful actions will be taken.”
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/al-ready-counter-bnp-streets-3452801
