DMP allows BNP, but not on street

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police yesterday gave permission to the main opposition BNP to hold its rally today at Suhrawardy Uddyan, instead of the party's headquarters in Nayapaltan.
The permission comes hours after Home Minister MK Alamgir in parliament advised the BNP to hold the rally inside its office building or any auditorium or place surrounded by walls, instead of on the street.
On Monday, the BNP announced its decision to hold the rally in front of its Nayapaltan office to press home its demands, including a restoration of the caretaker government system.
Masudur Rahman, a deputy commissioner of the DMP, yesterday told The Daily Star that police had given the permission in response to a request by the party.
BNP spokesperson Shamsuzzaman Dudu confirmed that they had got the permission from the DMP authority to hold the rally, which is scheduled to begin at 3:00pm at Suhrawardy Uddyan.
On May 15, the BNP-led 18-party alliance announced a daylong hartal for May 19, protesting the administration's repeated denial of permission to it for holding a rally in the capital.
But on the evening of that day, they withdrew the hartal in view of the possible strike by cyclone Mahasen on the country's coastal areas.
Earlier in May, police denied permission to the party twice for holding a rally in the capital.
On May 19, the home minister said no meeting or demonstration would be allowed for an indefinite period in the capital in order to avert anarchy.
But no government order or circular in connection with the ban had been issued.
MKA AT PARLIAMENT
In parliament, Alamgir said the BNP had earlier been given permission to hold rallies in the city several times. “But they did not keep their promise of not vandalising vehicles, setting fire to public transport in the name of holding a rally.”
"If Anee [BNP lawmaker Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee] or his party promises that they will not carry out vandalism and hamper traffic movement besides ensuring people's safety, then permission will be given as per the country's existing law,” added Alamgir.
Speaking on a point of order, Anee, also acting opposition chief whip, yesterday said they went to DMP commissioner's office for permission to hold the rally.
"But, he [commissioner] told us that he was unable to give us permission due to directives from the government high-ups," Anee told the House.
Anee also said the home minister earlier in parliament had assured them that the government would give its permission if any political party wanted to hold its rally in the city.
He threatened to wage a tougher movement, including enforcing hartal, if they were not allowed to hold the rally today.