BNP observes ‘Nat’l Revolution and Solidarity Day’

No permission for rally

The BNP has not yet received permission to hold its planned rally in front of the party central office at Naya Paltan in the city tomorrow for its observance of November 7 as ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’. The same day—November 7—is observed by the ruling Awami League as the ‘Day of Massacre of Freedom Fighters', while the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, which actively supported a counter-coup on this day in 1975, celebrates it as the ‘Sepoy and People’s Revolution Day’. BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi claimed that the government is playing a dirty game by refusing to give BNP permission to hold the rally. Speaking at a press conference, however, he said the BNP still believes it would be given permission to hold the rally in front of the party central office. He alleged that the government is obstructing the programme out of a sense of political vindictiveness. The BNP leader accused the
police of halting the party’s proposed rally at Suhrawardy Udyan with a lame excuse and said that such a situation “is only possible in a state of anarchy.” He said that the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has, with a very confusing statement, rejected the party’s application seeking police permission to hold the rally in front of the party headquarters.  If the police allow themselves to be turned into a weapon to snatch the democratic rights of the Opposition, it will only tarnish their reputation, he added. The BNP has planned a 10-day programme to observe the day.  As part of the programme, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is to place a wreath on the mazar of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city today morning. She will also offer fateha at the mazar, he added.
 Meanwhile, talking to The Independent, Ahmed said that the party would take a different course of action if denied permission to hold the rally in front of the party office.
 The November 7 observances commemorate the 1975 uprising of the people and soldiers.  The uprising, led by Col. Abu Taher and his political group Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, ended the three-day coup organised by self-proclaimed Maj. Gen. Khaled Mosharraf. It helped Major Gen. Ziaur Rahman, founder of the BNP, to grab power in the long run.  The November 7 coup was one in a series of coups and counter-coups that occurred after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 15 August 1975. The AL government recognises it as a day for neither revolution nor solidarity; rather, the party denounces it as the day of the murder of freedom fighters. November 7 was observed as a national holiday in Bangladesh during the rule of HM Ershad and the then prime minister Khaleda Zia. In 2007, the caretaker government of Fakhruddin Ahmed scrapped this holiday.

BNP observes Natl Revolution and Solidarity Day

No permission for rally

The BNP has not yet received permission to hold its planned rally in front of the party central office at Naya Paltan in the city tomorrow for its observance of November 7 as National Revolution and Solidarity Day. The same dayNovember 7is observed by the ruling Awami League as the Day of Massacre of Freedom Fighters, while the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, which actively supported a counter-coup on this day in 1975, celebrates it as the Sepoy and Peoples Revolution Day. BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi claimed that the government is playing a dirty game by refusing to give BNP permission to hold the rally. Speaking at a press conference, however, he said the BNP still believes it would be given permission to hold the rally in front of the party central office. He alleged that the government is obstructing the programme out of a sense of political vindictiveness. The BNP leader accused the police of halting the partys proposed rally at Suhrawardy Udyan with a lame excuse and said that such a situation is only possible in a state of anarchy. He said that the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has, with a very confusing statement, rejected the partys application seeking police permission to hold the rally in front of the party headquarters. If the police allow themselves to be turned into a weapon to snatch the democratic rights of the Opposition, it will only tarnish their reputation, he added. The BNP has planned a 10-day programme to observe the day. As part of the programme, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is to place a wreath on the mazar of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city today morning. She will also offer fateha at the mazar, he added. Meanwhile, talking to The Independent, Ahmed said that the party would take a different course of action if denied permission to hold the rally in front of the party office. The November 7 observances commemorate the 1975 uprising of the people and soldiers. The uprising, led by Col. Abu Taher and his political group Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, ended the three-day coup organised by self-proclaimed Maj. Gen. Khaled Mosharraf. It helped Major Gen. Ziaur Rahman, founder of the BNP, to grab power in the long run. The November 7 coup was one in a series of coups and counter-coups that occurred after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 15 August 1975. The AL government recognises it as a day for neither revolution nor solidarity; rather, the party denounces it as the day of the murder of freedom fighters. November 7 was observed as a national holiday in Bangladesh during the rule of HM Ershad and the then prime minister Khaleda Zia. In 2007, the caretaker government of Fakhruddin Ahmed scrapped this holiday.