Transport strike in Faridpur ahead of BNP rally, party men throng venue

Keeping the transport strike in mind, several hundreds of BNP leaders-activists have reached Faridpur from different districts three days before the party's divisional rally to be held on Saturday.

BNP men have started thronging the rally venue of Abdul Aziz Institute ground in Komarpur of Faridpur since Wednesday night and are now staying there with the arrangement of local hosts.

However, Faridpur Bus Owners Workers Oikya Parishad called a transport strike on all routes in the district from 6 am Friday to 8pm Saturday, demanding that movement of three-wheelers be banned on highways.

Similar strikes were enforced ahead of the BNP's recent Barishal, Mymensingh, Khulna and Rangpur rallies as well.

BNP is holding rallies at the divisional cities in protest against the price hike of essentials and fuel, recent killings of five party men in police firings, and also demanding release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

BNP Central Committee Organising Secretary Shama Obaid said, "The government has consistently created obstacles in various ways to obstruct the flow of people coming to BNP's assembly. For this, the leaders and workers are preparing to come to the gathering place in advance. Many of them have arrived already."

Faridpur district BNP convener Syed Modarres Ali said to make the rally a success, BNP leaders and activists from different districts have started to throng the rally venue. Around 10,000 leaders and activists have already reached near the venue. 

"Our leaders and activists cannot be stopped from joining the rally by enforcing the transport strike," he said. 

Transport strike demanding ban on three-wheeler movement

Earlier, Faridpur Bus Owners Workers Oikya Parishad, in a letter sent to Dhaka Divisional Commissioner, threatened a two-day bus strike from Friday if the three-wheelers are not stopped from highways by 10 November.

However, their strike days are almost the same in Faridpur- the BNP rally day (12 November) and one or two days before, local BNP leaders alleged.

They also said the government has been forcing the transport bodies to go for such strikes so that the divisional rally of BNP in Faridpur cannot be a success.

Golam Nasir, general secretary of the Faridpur Bus Owners Workers Oikya Parishad, said "As we do not get any positive response from Faridpur deputy commissioner or Superintendent of Police over the issue, we are forced to go on bus strike from Friday morning."

National Standing Committee member of BNP Iqbal Hasan Mahmud (Tuku) said "Plying of Nasimon, Karimon on the highway became a problem ahead of the BNP rally. Demanding suspension of the three-wheelers on highways, the transport association called a strike. Once the rally is over, there is no problem."

Police raiding houses of BNP men: allege BNP leaders

BNP leaders, at a press conference at Faridpur Press Club on Thursday, have alleged that law enforcers have been raiding the houses of party activists ahead of a divisional rally in Faridpur city.

Nine activists of the party were arrested two days before the rally, they added. 

Addressing the press conference, BNP vice chairman AZM Zahid Hossain, said police are arresting BNP leaders and activists in Faridpur and attacking their houses to prevent the party's mass rally.

"The government is taking such aggressive moves out of panic. I urge them to be calm. They will never be able to stop us from organising the mass rally successfully," AZM Zahid, also President of the advisory committee of the mass rally, added.

BNP Central Committee Organising Secretary Shama Obaid said, "Seven leaders and activists of the party have been arrested from Nagarkanda, Faridpur. Moreover, the houses of Pankaj, former Faridpur Sadar upazila chairman, and BNP leader Mrinal have been searched by police. Awami League leaders and activists are also threatening our leaders and activists."

Denying the arrest of any BNP men ahead of the rally, police said they are working to maintain law and order, public safety, and traffic and vigilance has been increased here.

Nagarkanda police station officer in charge Miraj Hossain said, "We did not arrest any of the BNP leaders and activists. We have arrested eight warranted accused from various places of Nagarkanda area on Tuesday midnight."