Attack on Mirpur rally: BNP to hold nationwide protest Sunday

PBC News:  BNP has announced nationwide demonstrations for Sunday protesting the attack on their programme in the city’s Mirpur.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the announcement at a press conference at the chairperson’s office in Gulshan on Friday morning.

The protests will be held in all cities, districts and upazilas including Dhaka, said Fakhrul.

BNP will also hold a demonstration in front of the party’s central office in the city’s Nayapaltan at 3pm.

Fakfrul said Awami League is an anti-democratic and a terrorist force that takes away the rights of the people of the country.

“Awami League established one-party rule in the past, but they still want to establish one-party, Baksal, for the same purpose,” he added.

He said AL had attacked BNP leaders and activists attacked opposition programmes in the same way in the past.

“What Awami League wants to do now ahead of the election is to ensure that no healthy election environment remains in the country and the demand of a neutral government for which the people are protesting is not met,” said Fakhrul.

They (AL) want to hold another election without any opposition party to establish their one-party rule, he added.

On Thursday, at least 100 BNP activists were injured during a series of clashes with ruling Awami League rivals at the capital’s Mirpur area over holding a scheduled rally.

“We took permission from police to hold the rally and accordingly asked our activists to join. As our leaders, activists were coming with a procession, activists of AL, Jubo League, and Bangladesh Chaatra League (BCL) attacked them with sticks, rods,” said Aminul Huque, member secretary of Dhaka North of BNP.

Police also lobbed tear shells at BNP activists, he said. Around 15 activists were held by police, said the BNP leader.

Such an attack on a protest rally against price hikes of essentials proves that the government wants to prevent democratic rights in a fascist style, said Aminul.

Earlier on September 10, BNP announced to hold public rallies in 16 spots under its Dhaka south and north city units until September 27 in protest against the increase in prices of essentials, fuel and transport fares.

The rallies are also meant for registering the party’s protest against the killings of Bhola Chhatra Dal leader Noor-e-Alam, Swechchasebak Dal leader Abdur Rahim and Narayanganj Jubo Dal leader Shawn Prodhan.