BNP’s road march foiled in Rajshahi

The BNP could not hold its road march in Rajshahi city today as police arrested BNP men overnight and created a curfew-like situation, its leaders claimed.

The party was scheduled to hold the road march at 11:00am from Bhuvan Mohan Park to Martyred Kamaruzzaman Square in the city with a six-point demand, including that of the next national polls under a caretaker government, reports our Rajshahi staff correspondent.

BNP leaders claimed that they managed to hold brief programmes in Boalia, Motihar, Rajpara, Shah Makhdum, Kasiadanga, and Chandrima.

Rajshahi city BNP convener Ershad Ali Esha said police raided the houses of BNP leaders and activists last night.

Police filed 12 Anti-Terrorism and Explosives related cases against more than 100 BNP men.

Around 27 of the arrestees were taken to court today, the BNP leader claimed.

Meanwhile, BNP Executive Committee's Relief and Rehabilitation Affairs Assistant Secretary Shafiqul Haque Milon claimed some 80 leaders and activists were arrested in 24 hours until this morning.

Before they could start the programme at 11:00am, police restricted vehicular movement in all streets around Shaheb Bazar and Malopara areas, he claimed.

The city BNP office in Malopara area was put under lock and key and policemen were deployed around the party office, BNP leaders said.

When contacted, Rofiqul Alam, additional deputy commissioner of RMP, refuted the claim.

He said the BNP asked for permission to hold the programme, but police had denied it.

"As the city is in an election mood [over upcoming RCC election], all kinds of gatherings and processions are prohibited till the allocation of election symbols. So, we could not allow the BNP to hold any programmes," he said.

Police took all necessary security measures to protect people's life and properties, he claimed.