Just rally, no demo

Leaders and activists of BNP-led 20-party alliance chanting slogans protesting police obstruction of a procession they were bringing out from Aswini Kumar Town Hall premises in Barisal city yesterday morning, against the government move to amend the constitution re-empowering the parliament to impeach Supreme Court judges for misconducts and incapacity. The protesters were not allowed to march in the end. Photo: Arifur Rahman

The BNP-led 20-party alliance will hold a rally in front of Jatiya Press Club today, instead of its previously announced demonstrations at 15 different points of the capital, protesting the government's recent move to restore parliament's authority to impeach judges.

Dhaka city BNP's new convener Mirza Abbas announced the decision at a press conference at the party's Naya Paltan headquarters after a meeting yesterday.

The decision to hold the rally only at one place in the capital was made hours after the opposition combine observed protest programmes in several cities of the country, on the same matter, slackly.

Yesterday, BNP-led alliance's programmes in Chittagong, Barisal, Khulna and Sylhet received a lukewarm response as the presence of their leaders and activists there was not significant, reports our correspondents.

On Monday, BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi had announced the BNP-led alliance would stage the processions and rallies across the country, excluding the capital, yesterday.

It had also announced rallies at 15 points of the capital for today protesting the approval of the proposal by the cabinet for amendment to the constitution for restoring parliament's authority to impeach SC judges for misconduct or incapability.

But after the end of yesterday's hour-long meeting, Abbas said it was a “sudden decision” to hold the rallies at 15 different points of the capital.

“Besides, our party activities might also be hampered, if we organise rallies in various points at the capital,” the BNP leader added.

The new chief of Dhaka city BNP also said the opposition alliance would organise human chains across the country on August 30 protesting “abductions” of opposition leaders by ruling party cadres and law enforcement agencies.

ANTI-GOVT MOVE TO GET NEW LOOK

Meanwhile, BNP standing committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman yesterday said their ongoing “non-violent” anti-government movement would get a “new momentum” after Eid-ul-Azha.

“I think a new dimension will be added to our movement after Eid-ul-Azha.  We're taking preparation in this regard but our movement will be a non-violent one,” he said, while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at party's founder Ziaur Rahman's grave in the capital.