Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Wednesday said that if the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) holds their anti-government rally peacefully at a certain place and their people leave accordingly authorities have nothing to do about that.
“We won't hinder,” the minister told reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting at the Secretariat to ensure overall security to mark this year’s Victory Day on December 16.
Responding to a question about the permission for holding Saturday’s rally by the BNP, the home minister said, “They (BNP) will bring all those who do BNP from all over Bangladesh to Dhaka. If so many people come to Dhaka, a different kind of situation can be created.”
He said the police commissioner will understand where to allow them to hold the rally and he will take the decision considering all the matters, the minister added.
Read: Haas queries home minister on security plan for BNP's Oct 28 rally
Asked if the government would close all the entry points to Dhaka as there is fear among the people about October 28 rally by the opposition, the home minister said, “Why should we close the entry points to Dhaka? People come to Dhaka for various purposes including business and jobs…We won’t close entry points to Dhaka.”
Whether law and order situation could deteriorate for the rally on Saturday, the minister said: “Look, the government is not something that will fall if pushed. This is a democratic government, so the government will be changed through election after the end of the term.”
Read: BNP trying to create instability ahead of election: Home Minister
Asked about whether the government will allow Jamaat-e-Islami to hold rallies, the home minister said Jamaat-e-Islami would not be allowed to hold rallies as it is not a registered party.
“I have said that Jamaat-e-Islami is not a registered party yet, so if they come under the banner of Jamaat-e-Islami, then there is no question of giving permission,” he said.
The US embassy issued a statement after a recent meeting between US Ambassador Peter Haas and the home minister. The statement said there was no talk about the October 28 rally.
When asked about the issue, the home minister said, “I have clarified the matter clearly after the meeting. We talked about four matters. We talked about the BNP's rally on October 28.”