AL, BNP to hold rallies in city on Saturday

The Awami League-led 14-party coalition has announced a rally for Saturday in Dhaka as its main rival BNP is preparing for a similar demonstration in the capital the same day, report agencies.

The announcement by 14-party alliance spokesman Awami League leader Mohammed Nasim on Tuesday has heated up Bangladesh's politics amid discussions of a fresh polarisation ahead of the general elections.

The BNP has asked its leaders and activists to be ready for waging the 'final' movement against the government while the ruling coalition says they will be out on the streets to tackle any unpleasant situation.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a news briefing earlier on Tuesday announced the deferment of their Thursday's rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan to Saturday.

Later, after a meeting of the ruling coalition at the Bangabandhu Avenue, Nasim announced their rally for Saturday at Mohanagar Natya Mancha.

He also said they would 'get hold of Dhaka on that day'.

"The conspirators will hit the streets. We will see who will be on the street and who won't," he said.

Meanwhile, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at the news briefing said, "Leaders and activists of our party and its different units have started working in full swing to make the rally a success. Hope, we'll be able to hold a successful programme on Saturday".

Asked whether they have got permission to hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan, he replied in the negative. "But, we hope we'll get the permission."

On Monday last, Rizvi at a press conference announced that they sought permission from the authorities concerned to hold a public rally either at Suhrawardy Udyan or in front of their party's Nayapaltan central office on Thursday.