'Where's your 48-hr ultimatum?'

BNP must take permission to hold any programmes from this government, which the party terms "illegal", Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said today.

"If you [BNP] don't do so, there will be consequences, you won't find a way to escape. You will have to flee," he said.

Quader also wanted to know why the BNP made repeated requests to the government to release BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia if it is "illegal".

"I want to ask the BNP where their 48-hour ultimatum is?" Their ultimatum, movement, everything is fake," he said while addressing a rally, organised by the Krishak League, at Baitul Mukarram's south gate.

The AL leader said the country, its democracy, and the spirit of the Liberation War are not safe at the hands of the BNP.

Asking the party activists to be ready, Quader said, "November is ahead, then December, then January, the final game will be played in January."

"Get ready, the leader is coming. You must take to the streets whenever asked."

Issuing a warning that the AL would face any movements with an iron fist, Quader said, "We will burn the hands of those who will try to carry out arson attacks; we will break the hands of those who will try to attack people."

Addressing the event, Matia Chowdhury, deputy leader of the House and also AL presidium member, said, "Today, when farmers across the country are happy, the BNP is upset. They are trying to mislead people."

She also urged the Krishak League activists to be on guard against the BNP's conspiracy.

Abdur Razzaque, agriculture minister and also AL presidium member, said, "The BNP is threatening to occupy Dhaka and paralyse the country. We will have to be on the streets and turn their dream into a nightmare."

Among others, AL joint general secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif, AFM Bahauddin Nasim, organising secretaries SM Kamal Hossain, Mirza Azam, and Krishak League President Samir Chanda spoke at the event.