BNP barred from holding meeting in capital
Police today barred BNP from holding a discussion in the capital’s Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) as the party had no permission from Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and the country’s eminent citizens were scheduled to address the programme in protest against the increasing incidents of killing, force disappearance and abduction.
A police team headed by Sirajul Islam, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station, went to the IEB around 11:00am and asked BNP leaders and activists to leave the auditorium while they were preparing the podium for the discussion which was scheduled to start at 3:00pm.
At one stage, IEB authorities were forced to lock the main entrance of the auditorium at about 11:30am.
Shibli Noman, assistant commissioner (Ramna zone) of DMP who also went there, said they would not allow the party to go ahead with the programme as it did not have approval for the discussion.
BNP leaders Barkat Ullah Bulu, Shaheeduddin Chowdhury Anee and Abul Khair Bhuiyan later at about 2:20pm went to the DMP commissioner to seek permission, but failed.
BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other leaders and activists left the IEB area around 3:45pm when police created arrest panic among them by bringing a prison van at the meeting place.
Fakhrul alleged that the law enforcers “illegally and democratically” foiled the programme.
Expressing strong condemnation, the BNP spokesperson said, “The government’s undemocratic mentality has been exposed through the barricade.”
BNP will plan next course of action at the party forum in protest against the government’s denial to hold a rally, he said.
“The party’s high-ups will hold a meeting at BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office this evening and set the next course of action protesting the government’s undemocratic activities,” he added.
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