BNP hopes to secure permission for Feb 22 rally

BNP is hopeful that it will secure permission to hold its February 22 rally at either Dhaka’s Suhrawardy Udyan or near their Nayapaltan central office to press for Khaleda Zia’s release.

A four-member delegation headed by BNP Vice Chairman Ahmed Azam Khan went to meet Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Miah today in this regard.

"We have not yet secured permission from DMP but we are hopeful that we will get it," Ahmed Azam Khan told reporters after meeting the DMP chief.

"We are taking preparations to hold the rally on February 22. The government will give us permission as it is our democratic right," BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told The Daily Star.

Earlier on February 16, BNP-led 20-party alliance announced to hold a rally on February 22 at Dhaka's Suhrawardi Udyan or in front of the party headquarters at Nayapaltan  demanding release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. 

BNP chief Khaleda is currently serving a five-year term imprisonment, convicted in charges of Tk 2.10 crore graft.