BNP seeks permission for Nov 7 rally at Suhrawardy Udyan

The BNP wants to stage another show of strength on November 7 to mark "National Revolution and Solidarity Day" by holding a public meeting at Suhrawardy Udyan. The party has already applied for permission to use the venue, but is yet to get approval from the authorities. BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is expected to address the rally, said party sources.

Party leaders think that the planned public meeting would be another major gathering after the huge turnout at the airport road after arrival of chairperson Khaleda Zia from London on September 18 and during her four-day visit to Cox’s Bazar. They expressed hope that good sense would prevail on the government and it would allow the BNP to hold the public meeting at Suhrawardy Udyan on November 7.

BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said all political parties have the right to hold rally and the government should allow them to do it.

“We expect that the government will not create any obstruction in the path of holding the rally. By not allowing other political parties to hold rallies, the Awami League-led government is losing popularity,” he added.

He claimed that the popularity of the BNP is on the rise as the party is not being allowed to hold rallies. “Now it is up to the government whether it will continue on the same path,” he added.

When asked about the alternative if the party is not allowed to hold the rally, Hossain said they would take the next course of action after evaluating the situation and the government's attitude.

BNP assistant office secretary Taiful Islam said they have submitted applications to the authorities seeking permission to use Suhrawardy Udyan as venue to hold the public meeting. “We are yet to receive the permission,” he added.

At a meeting last week, the BNP standing committee, the highest policymaking body of the party, decided to hold the public meeting at Suhrawardy Udyan to mark "National Revolution and Solidarity Day".

The BNP had sought permission to hold a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on November 7 last year on the same occasion, but it was not granted.

UNB adds: BNP yesterday chalked out a 10-day programme to observe the 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day,' marking what it said the civil-military 'uprising on November 7, 1975'.

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programmes at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office in the capital after a joint meeting of the party and its associate bodies.

He said the celebrations of the day will begin on November 5 and end on November 14.

The programmes include hoisting party flag atop its all offices on the morning of November 7, and placing wreaths and offering fateha at the mazaar of late President and party founder Ziaur Rahman at 10 am on the day by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia along with party leaders and workers and holding a discussion.

Besides, the party's associate bodies will hold various programmes, including discussions, cultural programmes, publishing supplements in newspapers, and distributing leaflets.

Speaking at a programme, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, "Civilians and soldiers restored the rule of people through their joint efforts on the day. The spirit of the Liberation War and the Independence was consolidated on November 7, 1975."

The BNP leader said the spirit of the Liberation War has already been destroyed again and the country's independence and sovereignty put at stake with the current government's efforts to restore one-party rule under a different cover.

He warned that the country's people will foil the government's all 'evil designs' to restore the one-party rule.

Amid political turmoil, soldiers and civilians on November 7, 1975 jointly freed then chief of army staff Ziaur Rahman from captivity in Dhaka cantonment, paving the path for Zia to come to power. While BNP and its alliances celebrate November 7 as the National Revolution and Solidarity Day, the ruling Awami League and its front organisations consider it as the day of 'killing of freedom fighters'. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) observes it as the day of civil-military revolution.

 

BNP seeks permission for Nov 7 rally at Suhrawardy Udyan

The BNP wants to stage another show of strength on November 7 to mark National Revolution and Solidarity Day by holding a public meeting at Suhrawardy Udyan. The party has already applied for permission to use the venue, but is yet to get approval from the authorities. BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is expected to address the rally, said party sources. Party leaders think that the planned public meeting would be another major gathering after the huge turnout at the airport road after arrival of chairperson Khaleda Zia from London on September 18 and during her four-day visit to Coxs Bazar. They expressed hope that good sense would prevail on the government and it would allow the BNP to hold the public meeting at Suhrawardy Udyan on November 7. BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said all political parties have the right to hold rally and the government should allow them to do it. We expect that the government will not create any obstruction in the path of holding the rally. By not allowing other political parties to hold rallies, the Awami League-led government is losing popularity, he added. He claimed that the popularity of the BNP is on the rise as the party is not being allowed to hold rallies. Now it is up to the government whether it will continue on the same path, he added. When asked about the alternative if the party is not allowed to hold the rally, Hossain said they would take the next course of action after evaluating the situation and the governments attitude. BNP assistant office secretary Taiful Islam said they have submitted applications to the authorities seeking permission to use Suhrawardy Udyan as venue to hold the public meeting. We are yet to receive the permission, he added. At a meeting last week, the BNP standing committee, the highest policymaking body of the party, decided to hold the public meeting at Suhrawardy Udyan to mark National Revolution and Solidarity Day. The BNP had sought permission to hold a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on November 7 last year on the same occasion, but it was not granted. UNB adds: BNP yesterday chalked out a 10-day programme to observe the National Revolution and Solidarity Day, marking what it said the civil-military uprising on November 7, 1975. BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programmes at a press conference at the partys Nayapaltan central office in the capital after a joint meeting of the party and its associate bodies. He said the celebrations of the day will begin on November 5 and end on November 14. The programmes include hoisting party flag atop its all offices on the morning of November 7, and placing wreaths and offering fateha at the mazaar of late President and party founder Ziaur Rahman at 10 am on the day by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia along with party leaders and workers and holding a discussion. Besides, the partys associate bodies will hold various programmes, including discussions, cultural programmes, publishing supplements in newspapers, and distributing leaflets. Speaking at a programme, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, Civilians and soldiers restored the rule of people through their joint efforts on the day. The spirit of the Liberation War and the Independence was consolidated on November 7, 1975. The BNP leader said the spirit of the Liberation War has already been destroyed again and the countrys independence and sovereignty put at stake with the current governments efforts to restore one-party rule under a different cover. He warned that the countrys people will foil the governments all evil designs to restore the one-party rule. Amid political turmoil, soldiers and civilians on November 7, 1975 jointly freed then chief of army staff Ziaur Rahman from captivity in Dhaka cantonment, paving the path for Zia to come to power. While BNP and its alliances celebrate November 7 as the National Revolution and Solidarity Day, the ruling Awami League and its front organisations consider it as the day of killing of freedom fighters. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) observes it as the day of civil-military revolution.