Dec 10 rally: BNP ‘has no plan to unseat government’
The BNP has no plan to oust the government from the December 10 rally in Dhaka, although some of its leaders at different times had threatened to unseat it.
The party said the Dhaka rally will be peaceful like the other divisional ones held so far.
The issue was discussed at a meeting of the BNP standing committee, the highest policymaking body of the party, on Monday night.
The Daily Star talked to three members of the committee, who said six of the rallies so far were successful.
"Transport strikes centring the rallies basically egged on the party leaders and activists to join the programme at any cost. They joined the rallies to lodge their protest and that's why a one-day rally turned into a two to three days' affairs," said one member.
He also said they think the more the obstacles, the bigger the presence will be at the Dhaka rally, which is planned to be held in front of the party's Nayapaltan headquarters.
Another standing committee member said when the transport strike was called suddenly in Mymensingh and yet the party activists joined the rally there defying all odds, it inspired the activists elsewhere.
Meeting sources said that when the issue of Dhaka rally came up for discussion, standing committee members said that possibly a wrong message was sent to the government in this regard.
"Otherwise, why has the government started arresting the opposition men when the rally is still a month away?" said a meeting source.
He said the BNP wants to stage a huge showdown, but not to unseat the government.
"It is true that the government is in a crisis on the economic front, but it still is organisationally strong. It is not possible to topple the government through a movement over such a short period of time," said a senior leader, preferring anonymity.
Miza Abbas, another standing committee member, said, "We want to hold a peaceful rally like the previous ones in other divisions."
Sources also said the party, in the meantime, is keeping the diplomats updated on all the developments regarding the rallies.
The party has already held a number of meetings with them.
PARTY ASKS DMP FOR PERMISSION
The BNP yesterday sought the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's permission to hold their much-talked-about rally in front of the party's Nayapaltan office in the capital on December 10.
A party delegation met DMP Commissioner Khandker Golam Farque around 10:00am and urged him to ensure there was no chaos or anarchy by ruling party men centring the rally, Abdus Salam, convener of Dhaka South BNP, told The Daily Star.
They also requested the commissioner to ensure that there are no obstacles for party leaders and activists from joining the rally.
BNP leaders said AL men should not take to the street before the rally to create a fearful situation.
"We sought permission to hold the rally in front of the party's Nayapaltan headquarters. The DMP authorities also wanted to know whether we have an alternate option [for a venue]. We said we will let him know after discussing with the senior leaders," Salam said.
The commissioner said they will inform the party leaders about the permission after that, he added.
"We requested the commissioner to inform us soon, so that we can start preparing."
As part of its ongoing movement, the BNP on September 27 announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional cities to protest the price hikes of daily essentials and fuel, death of five party men in previous police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Jashore, and to demand the release of its Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
The party has already completed its rallies in Chattogram, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rangpur, Barishal, and Faridpur braving various obstacles and transport strikes.
The movement will end with its Dhaka rally on December 10, coinciding with International Human Rights day.
Contacted, DMP commissioner said, "We are collecting intelligence information. After analysing those, we will consider it [giving permission for the rally]."
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