BNP's divisional mass meeting on December 10 in the capital Dhaka continues to be complicated though Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) offered the party a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan under 26 conditions, but the party did not agree to it.

BNP said the government is trying to get them there by some trick. As an alternative venue, BNP has requested permission from DMP for Motijheel Arambagh Ideal School ground and front area.

BNP is complaining that the police are harassing innocent people in residential hotels and messes. 1500 leaders and workers were arrested by raiding various houses. A case has been filed against many. Arrest warrants have also been issued against many leaders and activists.

DMP commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruq told Bangladesh Pratidin, “No gatherings will be allowed on the streets in any way. We told them to hold a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan. If they get a better venue then we will see.”

While BNP is adamant about Nayapaltan or the road in front of Arambagh Ideal School near the party office, DMP is adamant about Suhrawardy Udyan.

However, BNP is saying that they will not go to Suhrawardy Udyan in any way. Although various leaders of BNP have given different statements about December 10, the top leaders of the party say that the rally will be held in Dhaka on that day. After the rally in other divisions, the last divisional rally will be held in Dhaka on December 10.

A delegation led by BNP publicity secretary Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie was supposed to meet the top officials of DMP on Tuesday afternoon.

However, as there was no response from the DMP headquarters, the delegation did not go.

In this regard, BNP's Dhaka Divisional Organizing Secretary Abdus Salam Azad told Bangladesh Pratidin, “Actually, we did not go there as we did not get any response from the DMP. But on Wednesday we will go there. We believe the DMP will allow Nayapaltan or Arambagh as the venue.

According to various sources, the rally in the capital is not being seen as in other divisional cities. Keeping in view the Motijheel incident on May 5, 2013, the law enforcement agencies have made maximum preparations. Many circles have some special plans around the rally in Dhaka. Detectives fear that some leaders and workers of BNP and its organizations may take positions separately. Some local and foreign circles including Jamaat are giving behind-the-scenes support in this.

Law enforcement agencies are in a strong position at the BNP rally in Dhaka on December 10. DMP arrested 285 people in 24 hours till Tuesday morning in the capital alone. 727 people were arrested in the previous two days. However, BNP has alleged that around 1,500 leaders and workers have been arrested across the country including the capital.

They said that their leaders and workers are being searched from house to house. Panic is being spread among the common people of the city. Torture has created a terrible fear and reign of terror in the country. The government is using the police force to carry out false cases, arrests and torture at the rally center in Dhaka.

The residents of the capital are worried about the discussion of BNP and Awami League or government ministers about the venue of the rally. In the meantime, fear is filling the minds of the common people around the special operation of the law enforcement agencies to arrest the accused of pending cases, block raids in various areas. In the words of political leaders, December 10 has now become the center of discussion in the country.

Earlier, the transport strike was called in the divisions where the BNP had held rallies, so that the common people had to suffer. The public is afraid of the same happening around the rally in Dhaka.

Leaders of ruling Awami League say that BNP is trying to create unrest by bringing people from different districts to Dhaka in the name of BNP rally on December 10. Recently, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said that they (BNP) announced that they will do terrorism in front of December 10, and the fire terror is coming back again will play

BNP wants to shake off the long-standing failure and launch a major movement a year before the next election.

Party leaders called a divisional meeting in Dhaka on December 10 and said that after that day, Bangladesh will follow Khaleda Zia's words. Tariq Rahman will return home from UK. Some say that Khaleda Zia, who is at home after being released from prison by the government's executive order, will attend the December 10 rally.

BNP will present 10 points in the rally. They are- Resignation of the current government, formation of an impartial electoral government, formation of an acceptable election commission, abolish the EVM system and arrange voting through paper ballots, cancel the sentences of all opposition leaders and activists, journalists and scholars including Khaleda Zia, withdraw all false cases and immediately release political prisoners, not to create obstacles to assembly and expression of opinion in the country, canceling laws that take away basic human rights including Digital Security Act-2018 and Special Powers Act-1974; Cancellation of the anti-people government decision to increase the price of electricity, energy, gas, water and other public services sector, bring daily necessities within the purchasing power of common people, formation of a commission to identify corruption in all areas of the state including money laundering, banking and financial sector, electricity and fuel sector, stock market, and to identify corruption and take appropriate punitive measures very quickly, ensuring proper punishment by rescuing all missing citizens and prosecuting extrajudicial killings and state torture, punishing those responsible for vandalizing houses, places of worship and seizing property of religious minorities, enabling law enforcement, administration and judiciary to operate independently without government interference to give.

@The interview was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on December 7, 2022 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan.