BNP urges all opposition parties to join Saturday's rally at Golapbag

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has called on all parties who are ready for simultaneous movement against the government to join its final divisional rally at Golapbag in the capital on Saturday (10 December).

"I call upon all the BNP leaders and activists and other parties who will be with us in the movement against the government to join Saturday's rally,"  BNP Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said at a press briefing Friday (9 December). 

He also noted that the BNP will announce a 10-point charter of demand at the rally to oust the government. 

"The parties who have agreed to the movement with us, with whom we have talked, will simultaneously declare solidarity and announce programmes from their respective positions," said the veteran BNP leader.

The BNP has announced the venue for their final divisional rally in Dhaka slated for Saturday at Golapbag field which is located near Sayedabad bus terminal. The rally will start at 11am. 

While reading out the written statement on behalf of the party, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain condemned the arrest of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee member Mirza Abbas. 

"Through this act, the present fascist government has shown its extreme character. We demand the immediate release of Mirza Fakhrul, Abbas and those detained over the Dhaka divisional rally," he said.

Mosharraf further said, "This rally is no longer a party rally, but a rally of the public. It doesn't matter if we (BNP leaders) are present there or not, it's the rally that matters. Their presence will make the gathering a success. Even if Mirza Fakhrul is not there, the people will make the rally a success."

He noted that a BNP delegation went to the police with a letter to organise the rally at Golapbag field which the law enforcement agency approved. 

"The reason for approving the Golapbag field so late was to make sure that we could not unite all the people. You [journalists] have seen the actions of the police to discourage the people. The road in front of the BNP party office was blocked by the police. However, the Awami League workers were allowed to hold processions in front of the party office.

"So you can understand why the government is trying to stop this rally. Nine previous divisional rallies were held peacefully and successfully. The government has taken steps to prevent the public from joining the Dhaka rally."

The BNP leader alleged that the ruling party activists are preparing to disrupt the rally. 

"The government is working to thwart our efforts to advance the democratic process. They [the ruling party] are doing this because they are not elected," he added.

The BNP leader also said any untoward incident centring the rally will be the responsibility of the government. 

"All our nine divisional rallies have been held peacefully. None of our workers will engage in any violence. Rather the government will do it," he said.