Political activities: BNP won’t be allowed to conduct any in December

The BNP would not be allowed to conduct any political activities anywhere in the country in December, the month of victory, said Awami League Presidium Member Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya yesterday.

The AL leader, also a freedom fighter, came up with the remarks while addressing a discussion in the capital in the afternoon.

" ... They [BNP] have been trying to assume power taking the path of conflict. There is no mention of voting in their speeches. There is no mention of independence and Liberation War. Only one thing, they want to oust Sheikh Hasina," he said.

"BNP is holding a rally in Khulna. They [BNP] forcibly use buses and trucks and beat up helpers and conductors instead of paying the fare. That's why they [transport workers] have already stopped operating buses but the BNP blames the Awami League for it," said the AL leader.

Meanwhile, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said the BNP wants bodies to give a boost to their movement but the government won't allow it.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister , said the AL would face BNP politically.

"Their intention is to create an incident ... We will not allow that ... We will not fall into their trap," Quader told reporters after attending a programme at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.

" ... the government will not take any responsibility if someone gets killed following the provocations of them [BNP] centring the movement," he said.

While responding to a question, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday said he was unsure of the exact reason for buses not running in Khulna.

"As of now, we don't know the exact information as to why the bus services have been stopped. Bus workers or owners had their demands. We don't know if they did it for that reason," the minister said.

Asked about the allegation that BNP leaders and activists were being arrested ahead of their rally, he said that arrests were a regular matter. Anyone who resorts to vandalism or has arrest warrant issued against them is always taken into custody.

"For the sake of the rally, no one is being arrested ... the metropolitan police commissioner is in charge and he will be able to say well. Nothing has occurred to the best of my knowledge that could make the situation volatile. As far as we know, there will be a rally [in Khulna], and the police are working as usual so that they [BNP] can finish the rally smoothly," the minister added.