Amid speculations and rising political tensions, BNP is set to hold its rescheduled grand rally at Nayapaltan on Friday to mount pressure on the government to accept the party’s one-point demand.
Apart from BNP, 37 like-minded political parties and alliances are also going to arrange separate rallies in different city areas to press home the one-point demand that includes the resignation of the Awami League regime and holding the next election under a neutral government.
Besides, three wings of the ruling Awami League--Jubo League, Swechchasebak League and Chhatra League—are also scheduled to hold a rally in front of the south gate of Baitul Mukarram mosque, which is 1.7 kilometres away from the BNP’s venue at Nayapaltan.
Read: BNP, AL associate bodies get permission for rallies at Nayapaltan, Baitul Mukarram on conditions
The rallies of the ruling and opposition parties were scheduled to be held on Thursday, but they rescheduled their programmes for Friday as Dhaka Metropolitan Police authorities did not allow them to use their chosen venues on a working day for the sake of avoiding public sufferings.
Political analysts think it will be a daunting task for the law enforcers to maintain peace and fend off any untoward incident as the both opposition and the ruling parties will hold their programmes at short distances and at the same time.
All eyes will be on the BNP’s rally as speculations are there that party may announce non-stop action programmes to force the Awami League government to step down to pave the way for holding the next election under a neutral administration.
Read: Same condition for both AL and BNP: Home Minister on Friday's rallies
According to reports reaching the UNB desk from different district correspondents, a good number of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies came to Dhaka by road, rail, or waterways to join the rally.
BNP leaders and workers, however, are afraid of getting arrested and they are facing obstruction by the law enforcers before reaching the rally venue.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a press briefing on Thursday alleged that over 500 leaders and activists of the party were arrested in the capital in the last 24 hours ahead of its Friday's grand rally.
He also accused the government of giving various provocations to create chaos and foil the rally by arresting BNP leaders and activists and raiding the hotels.
Read: Over 500 leaders, activists arrested in Dhaka ahead of grand rally: BNP
Earlier in the day, Dhaka Metropolitan Police gave BNP and Awami League’s three associate bodies permission to hold their rallies at Nayapaltan and Baitul Mukarram respectively on 23 conditions on Friday.
The police authorities also thanked both political parties for deferring their rallies to Friday from Thursday considering public suffering.
BNP was asked to limit their rally from Kakrail’s Nightingale crossing to Rajarbagh Police Hospital and the AL bodies were asked to restrict their rally from Mahanagar Natya Manch to Muktangan, he said.
The DMP urged the supporters of both parties not to carry any sticks, bamboo and bags in the rallies.
After getting DMP’s permission, BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas came to the party’s Nayapaltan central office and had a meeting with the leaders of Dhaka south and north city units of BNP about the final preparation to make the programme a success.
Later talking to reporters, Abbas thanked the DMP authorities for their positive attitude towards BNP’s rally.
He called upon the law enforces to provide BNP with proper cooperation in ensuring security for peacefully holding the grand rally at Nayapaltan. “I hope that there will be no obstacles to the people and BNP leaders and workers on the way to the rally."
Read: AL’s associate bodies to hold tomorrow's rally at south gate of Baitul Mukarram
The BNP leader said they have taken all-out preparations to make their rally a success with the spontaneous participation of people.
Meanwhile, the leaders and activists of BNP thronged the road in front of the party's central office in Nayapaltan on Thursday morning, a day before their rescheduled grand rally, forcing police to remove them to ensure smooth traffic.
The BNP activists again started gathering at Nayapaltan in the evening and later vacated the area as per the directions of the party's senior leader.
Around 7pm, BNP leaders were seen urging the party followers using loudspeakers to return to their homes and join the rally tomorrow.
The rally to be arranged by Dhaka south and north city units of BNP will formally begin at 2pm where party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will address as the chief guest.
Alongside BNP, Ganatantra Mancha is scheduled to hold a rally at Purana Paltan at 3pm while 12-party alliance at Fakirerpool, Jatiyatabadi Samomona Jote at Bijoynagar, the Liberal Democratic Party at East Panthapath, Gonoforum and People’s Party at Arambagh, Labour Party at Bijoynagar, Gono Odhikar Parishad (Kibria) in front of the Jatiya Press Club, Gono Odhikar Parishad (Nur) at Fakirerpool Culvert Road, Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM) at Malibagh and Sadaran Chhatra Odhikar Parishad at Shahbagh at the same time.
Besides, Gonotantrik Bam Oikya will hold a rally at 10am in front of the Jatiya Press Club while AB Party at Bijoynagar at 11am.
Read: BNP defers tomorrow’s grand rally to Friday at Dhaka’s Nayapaltan
Earlier on Wednesday night, BNP decided to defer its grand rally to Friday as the party was unwilling to hold the programme at Golapbagh ground on Thursday as suggested by the police authorities.
Following BNP’s move, Awami League's three associate organisations—Chhatra League, Jubo League and Swechchasebak League—also announced to hold their rally on Friday, instead of Thursday.
Last Saturday, Fakhrul announced the grand rally for Thursday as part of their ongoing simultaneous anti-government movement.