BNP to unveil one-point movement on July 12

The BNP is going to make the announcement on its one-point movement demanding resignation of the government and election under a caretaker government from a rally in the capital on July 12.

Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will make the announcement from a rally in front of its Nayapaltan central office on the day, said party sources.

The decision was finalised at a meeting of the BNP standing committee at the party chairperson's Gulshan office last night.

In the morning, the party held a closed-door meeting of its front and associate bodies at its Nayapaltan central office where acting chairman Tarique Rahman, who virtually joined the meeting from London, hinted that a rally will be held in Dhaka on July 12.

After the meeting at Nayapaltan, Fakhrul met Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan residence. He went to her office from there and joined the standing committee meeting.

"We will make an announcement on our one-point movement programmes from a rally on July 12. Instructions have been given to stage a show of strength," a BNP standing committee member told The Daily Star last night wishing not to be named.

The BNP's like-minded political parties are also likely to make announcements on the one-point movement on July 12.

A BNP delegation is likely to go to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police office today to seek permission for the rally.

In the standing committee meeting, senior BNP leaders discussed the proposals put forward by the like-minded political parties on the movement programmes. The leaders agreed that they will not go for any tough programmes like hartal, blockade, and non-cooperation at this stage.

"But if we are compelled, we will think of tougher agitation programmes," said the standing committee member.

On Friday, the BNP held meetings with two alliances and two political parties. The meetings agreed to go for a one-point movement.

The BNP announced 10-point demand from its rally in Dhaka on December 10 last year. The party and its allies launched a simultaneous movement from December 24 to press home the 10-point demand.

Meanwhile, a European Union delegation, which is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka today, is going to hold talks with the BNP leaders.

Party leaders said they want to convey a message to the delegation that the BNP is in the final phase of an anti-government movement and it won't take part in any election under the incumbent government.