BNP on venue hunt for March 19 council

With the authorities yet to give permission for either of the three venues sought by the BNP, the party is searching for an alternative place to host the party national council on March 19. Party leaders now want Mohanagar Nattya Mancha at Gulistan as an alternative venue, if they are denied permission for the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, sources said. On Thursday, BNP senior leader Abdullah Al Noman alleged that the government was dillydallying to give BNP permission for a venue for their council only to put it in trouble. “I don’t believe the government won’t allow a powerful party like BNP to hold its council. But, they want us to fall in trouble.” he said.
Two weeks ago, the BNP had applied for permission to hold its council either at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre or Suhrawardy Udyan or the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh. But it did not get the permission. In the meantime, the party’s suggestion of Basundhara Convocation Centre as a venue was turned down. According to BNP insiders, the party high-ups are giving top priority to the BICC, considering that around 3,000 delegates are likely to attend it. But party leaders are also considering other options as they are yet to get a positive response from the authorities, the sources added. A standing committee member said the party may face serious trouble in holding the council in time, if it is not given permission for the venue well ahead of the scheduled date. “We need at least a month to prepare for the council. So, we do hope that the government will show its political willingness by providing us permission for the venue within a day or two,” he added.
The BNP leader said the party was making thorough preparations to hold the council, in which it intends to reshuffle the leadership by infusing fresh blood.
Another standing committee member, Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman, said they would have to hold the overdue council at any cost. “If the government does not give us any venue, we will hold it either under a banyan tree or a mango tree,” he observed.
Rahman said the government should come forward to extend its cooperation to hold the council for the sake of democracy.
BNP acting secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, had said on Sunday that they were unable to finalise the venue. “We are yet to receive any positive response from authorities,” he added.
The BNP leader said: “We need a big hall, for around 3,000 delegates who are likely to attend the council. So, it will be better if we are given permission for the BICC. The Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh is our last option.”
He sought cooperation from the government for holding their sixth council, saying that such meetings by major parties should be allowed to be held in a fair manner to maintain the democratic atmosphere in the country.
Juba Dal president Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal hoped that good sense will prevail and the government would give them permission to hold the party council in time.
DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Maruf Hossain Sardar said “The decision will be taken after considering the situation at the time of the council and in accordance with the schedule announced by the party.”

BNP on venue hunt for March 19 council

With the authorities yet to give permission for either of the three venues sought by the BNP, the party is searching for an alternative place to host the party national council on March 19. Party leaders now want Mohanagar Nattya Mancha at Gulistan as an alternative venue, if they are denied permission for the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, sources said. On Thursday, BNP senior leader Abdullah Al Noman alleged that the government was dillydallying to give BNP permission for a venue for their council only to put it in trouble. I dont believe the government wont allow a powerful party like BNP to hold its council. But, they want us to fall in trouble. he said. Two weeks ago, the BNP had applied for permission to hold its council either at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre or Suhrawardy Udyan or the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh. But it did not get the permission. In the meantime, the partys suggestion of Basundhara Convocation Centre as a venue was turned down. According to BNP insiders, the party high-ups are giving top priority to the BICC, considering that around 3,000 delegates are likely to attend it. But party leaders are also considering other options as they are yet to get a positive response from the authorities, the sources added. A standing committee member said the party may face serious trouble in holding the council in time, if it is not given permission for the venue well ahead of the scheduled date. We need at least a month to prepare for the council. So, we do hope that the government will show its political willingness by providing us permission for the venue within a day or two, he added. The BNP leader said the party was making thorough preparations to hold the council, in which it intends to reshuffle the leadership by infusing fresh blood. Another standing committee member, Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman, said they would have to hold the overdue council at any cost. If the government does not give us any venue, we will hold it either under a banyan tree or a mango tree, he observed. Rahman said the government should come forward to extend its cooperation to hold the council for the sake of democracy. BNP acting secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, had said on Sunday that they were unable to finalise the venue. We are yet to receive any positive response from authorities, he added. The BNP leader said: We need a big hall, for around 3,000 delegates who are likely to attend the council. So, it will be better if we are given permission for the BICC. The Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh is our last option. He sought cooperation from the government for holding their sixth council, saying that such meetings by major parties should be allowed to be held in a fair manner to maintain the democratic atmosphere in the country. Juba Dal president Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal hoped that good sense will prevail and the government would give them permission to hold the party council in time. DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Maruf Hossain Sardar said The decision will be taken after considering the situation at the time of the council and in accordance with the schedule announced by the party.