Due to a tremendous pressure from the BNP's acting leader in exile, Tarique Rahman, the party's other leaders in the country are not being able to change their decision of holding their rally programme at Suhrawardy Udyan instead of blocking roads in Naya Paltan area on December 10, said sources.
According to sources, son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman, who is absconding in London after being convicted by the court, remains rigid in his decision as part of an attempt to create a chaotic situation in the country anyhow. He wants to cash in on the outcome of the December 10 rally programme through violence.
Absconding Tarique Rahman, is said to be the mastermind in the August 21 grenade attacks as part of an attempt to kill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He is also convicted by the court on various other charges, including corruption.
Police as well as the government have been continuously requesting the BNP to hold its December 10 rally programme at an open ground like the historic Suhrawardy Uddyan. They have also been requesting the BNP to avoid the roads in front of the BNP office in Nayapaltan so that city dwellers do not have to suffer from traffic jams.
Bhttps://dmp.gov.bd/ut several leaders of the Standing Committee of the BNP on Monday night said that the decision of not changing the venue of the rally was taken in a two-hour virtual meeting with the party's Chairman Tarique Rahman on Monday night.
Sources said that the matter of not holding its biggest rally at Suhrawardy Udyan was finalized on Monday.
None of the members agreed to this proposal of the government. However, the standing committee agreed to continue discussions with the government on a third venue, they added.
Meanwhile, a member of the standing committee said on Tuesday that it was BNP's final decision to not hold the December 10 rally at Suhrawardy Udyan.
On the other hand, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) authorities on Tuesday said that the BNP will have to hold its rally programme on December 10 at the capital’s Suhrawardy Udyan, which is approved by the police.
“The party has made a proposal to hold the rally in the Arambagh area. However, the DMP is adamant about allowing the rally in Suhrawardy Udyan only,” Deputy Commissioner (Media) Faruk Hossain told journalists on Tuesday.
DMP will not allow gatherings on the streets, the official added.