BNP demos across country today over rally denial

Denied permission for its rally on Saturday at the city's Suhrawardy Udyan, BNP announced a countrywide demonstration programme for today (Sunday), protesting what it said the government's undemocratic attitude, reports UNB.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir declared the protest programme at a press conference at its Nayapaltan central office on Saturday noon.

"We didn't cancel our rally. We've been prevented from holding it. We strongly protest and condemn the government's autocratic attitude," he said.

Fakhrul said they would stage demonstrations in all cities, including Dhaka, and district towns to register their protest for the denial of permission for the rally.

In Dhaka city, the BNP leader said every thana unit of the city BNP would stage demonstrations in their respective areas.

He urged the people from all walks of life to spontaneously observe their programme for protecting democracy.

BNP was scheduled to hold a rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan on Saturday afternoon marking the 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day'. BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was supposed to address the rally.

Earlier on October 29, BNP sought permission from the Public Works Department (PWD) for holding the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan as well as from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police for using loudspeakers at the rally.

However, the authorities denied it the permission for the programme.

DMP authorities said they would allow BNP to hold an indoor rally in the city if the party wanted to do so.