BNP calls off human chain programme in city

In an apparent bid to avert a possible face-off with ruling party activists, the BNP-led 20-party has postponed its Saturday’s scheduled human chain programme in the city it had called protesting the enforced disappearances of its leaders and activists. Though the BNP leaders attributed the postponement of the programme to lack of police permission, party insiders said the decision was taken to avoid any trouble as Awami League is going to hold a rally in the city today (Saturday). The BNP alliance will, however, observe its programme in all other cities and district towns today. Officials of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said they did not give the 20-party alliance permission for its programme apprehending that there might be chaos as the ruling party has a pre-scheduled rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka city. ‘We’ve postponed our programme as the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) didn’t give us permission for it,’ BNP’s Dhaka city unit member secretary Habibun Nabi Khan Sohel has said, according to UNB.