Ban on gathering in Gazipur govt ploy: Mirza Alamgir

The BNP has criticised a decision to ban its prescheduled public rally in Gazipur. ‘It’s part of a government ploy to thwart the 20-party alliance's public meeting there,’ BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Friday. Gazipur district administration imposed Section 144 at Bhawal Badre Alam Government College grounds and surrounding areas from 2:00pm on Friday for an indefinite period. The area has been tense after the ruling party’s student front BCL announced to thwart Khaleda’s public rally. The BNP-led alliance, which boycotted January 5 polls, has organised a slew of rallies across Bangladesh to press for a snap election. Mirza Alamgir claimed they had got rally permission. ‘But the government won't let the opposition to hold rally,’ he alleged. BCL activists had been taking out processions at Badre Alam College premises since Friday morning before Gazipur Superintendent of Police Harun-or-Rashid on Friday afternoon said they had imposed the emergency section to avert tension, according to a news agency.