Govt out to foil Ctg road march: BNP

BNP joint secretary-general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed on Sunday accused the government of attempting a negative campaign to foil party chief Khaleda Zia's planned road march towards Chittagong, reports bdnews24.com. His comment came as the government has said that the main opposition party's road march programme is nothing but a means of destabilising the country. Rizvi disputed the allegation and said that their protest would be 'peaceful'. "The government is trying to create confusion in a planned manner regarding the Chittagong road march due to be held on Jan 8-9," he told the journalists at a press briefing held at the party headquarters. "We want to say that the party supporters will make the Chittagong road march a success like the previous ones. Any propaganda against it will go in vain," he added. Rizvi Ahmed said BNP felt no need of practising 'backdoor politics' and that "We do what we believe in." He said the road march protest would be 'peaceful'. Rizvi alleged that the ruling party cadres and law enforcers intimidated BNP's nationwide protest programmes on Saturday. "Police have arrested 175 of our activists," he said. The BNP leader also criticised Bangladesh Chhatra League, student wing of the ruling Awami League, for attacking on BNP's student wing Chhatra Dal's procession during Khulna Commerce College admission test. "Police have filed cases against 250 activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and arrested the sadar thana unit general secretary of JCD Arifuzzaman Opu along with 52 others," he alleged. Rizvi Ahmed said in line with previous announcement the main opposition would hold rallies at all district towns on Monday to protest against 'secret killings', arrest of BNP supporters, barring and foiling their programmes and power price hike. 'Cultural aggression' The opposition joint secretary expressed his concern over 'cultural aggression'. "Cultural aggression has begun in our country. Screening Indian films in Bangladeshi cinemas is a major blow to our national culture," he said. "We have our own rich culture, morality and history. Cultural activists of the country have already demanded cancellation of the decision to screen Indian movies. We do agree with them," he said. He said the party's cultural forum Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (JASAS) would announce programmes against the government decision.