BNP’s protest rally at Suhrawardy Udyan underway

Bangladesh desk: The rally of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party is now underway at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka to protest against the ‘oppression’ on the party leaders and activists during their Saturday’s sit-in programme at different entrances of the capital.

The rally formally began at about 3:00pm on Monday with the recitation from the Qur’an.

As part of the party’s countrywide programme, BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units have arranged the rally at the historic venue.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police has given permission to the party to hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on 26 conditions, including one not to broadcast speeches of convicted people during the rally.

A temporary stage has been set up on four trucks keeping them side by side and around 50 loudspeakers have been installed around the rally venue.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is scheduled to address the rally as the chief guest.

The party leaders and activists from different city areas have thronged the rally venue since 1:00pm.

A huge number of law enforcers have been deployed around the rally venue to fend off any untoward incident.

Earlier on Saturday, Mirza Fakhrul announced that their party would hold rallies in all cities and district towns to protest the oppression on the party leaders and workers during their Saturday’s sit-in programme at different entrances of the capital.

Meanwhile, BNP’s sit-in programme at the key entry points of Dhaka on Saturday was marred by clashes and violence, leaving an unspecified number of people injured.

Several vehicles were torched in different areas, including Matuail and Shyamoli, during the clashes between BNP activists and police.