BNP leaders yesterday complained that Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Assaduzzaman Mia did not meet a party delegation that had gone to seek permission for holding a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on November 13 to mark the ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’. BNP chairperson’s adviser Abdus Salam, who led the four-member delegation, said they went to the commissioner’s office, but were told that he was not available. Following the failure to either meet or communicate with the commissioner, the BNP leader asserted: “We want to talk to the commissioner and he should listen to us as he is for everyone.” The other members of the delegation were Abul Khair Bhuiyan, Monir Hossain and Shamim Ahmed. Abdus Salam further said they met the duty officer at the DMP office and sought an appointment with the top cop either today or tomorrow.
The BNP leader alleged that the government was deliberately trying to foil the Opposition party’s plan to mark the National Revolution and Solidarity Day for “ulterior political” reasons. “It won’t benefit the ruling party leaders in any way if they don’t allow us to hold the rally and speak to the people,” he added. He also accused AL leaders of distorting the history of the day. Abdus hoped that the government would give them permission to hold their rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on Sunday.
Earlier, police had denied permission to BNP to hold its rally at Suhrawardy Udyan and in front of the party headquarters on November 7 or 8. However, police later gave permission to the BNP to hold an indoor meeting at the Institution of Engineers on November 8 with 27 conditions.
The Opposition party, however, rejected the permission that was given after 1 pm on the day scheduled for the rally. Party leaders said they did not want to hold an indoor meeting but an outdoor rally. Following the denial of permission to hold the rally in front of the party central office on November 8, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had announced a new schedule to hold the programme at Suhrawardy Udyan on November 13. The party has already submitted an application to the DMP seeking police permission.