The BNP wants to stage a big show at its November 12 rally at Suhrawardy Udyan to mark the National Revolution and Solidarity Day, which the party observes on November 7.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is scheduled to be present at the rally as the chief guest. Along with the party leaders from Dhaka, leaders and workers from the nearby districts will also join the rally.

If the party is allowed to hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan, it is likely to turn into a huge gathering, claimed sources.

The BNP has changed the rally date at least twice due to different reasons. It deferred the programme from November 11 to 12 because Jubo League, the youth front of the Awami League, will hold a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on that day, insiders said.

The BNP has already sought the permission of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police to hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on November 12, but it is yet to get any response.

“We're yet to get permission for the rally. But we expect to get it soon,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

He was briefing reporters after a joint meeting at the party’s central office yesterday.

He said the party chairperson would address the rally as the chief guest and the rally would be a peaceful one. “We expect the government to extend its all-out cooperation to us for the rally, as the ruling party leaders claim that they do not obstruct any peaceful and democratic programme of political parties,” he added.

Fakhrul said the government should prove these statements by extending cooperation to hold the rally.

Replying to a question, the BNP leader said different aspects that can make the November 12 rally a success were discussed at the joint meeting. He said the rally would be politically very important for the party and repeated that they want to hold it peacefully.

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Ahmed Azam Khan, Amanullah Aman, Khairul Kabir Khokan, and Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anie, among others, were present at the press briefing.

Earlier, the BNP secretary general held the joint meeting with the leaders of Dhaka South and North and the districts near Dhaka and the party’s front organisations. Gazipur district president Fazlul Haque Milon and Narayanganj district president Moniruzzaman, among others, were also present at the meeting.

BNP joint secretary general and Narsingdi district party president Khairul Kabir Khokan said they want to hold “a historic rally” at Suhrawardy Udyan on November 12. “All the party leaders and activists are rejuvenated. Along with party activists, masses of people will also take part in the rally,” he added.

He expressed hope that the government would not obstruct the “peaceful rally”.