The year 2018 will be the year of people getting their rights back under the leadership of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said today. 

"The countdown to the end of the vote-less government has started," the BNP leader made the remarks at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office in the morning.

Rizvi said Awami League will no more be able to show the power of force to deter the forward march of the people.  

He also alleged that the law enforcers yesterday arrested more than 50 leaders and activists of the party to deter the party's observance of "democracy killing day", as they call it.

On Thursday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police denied the BNP permission to hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on January 5, the fourth anniversary of the 2014 parliamentary elections.

The AL marked the day as “victory day for democracy” holding two rallies in Banani and on the Bangabandhu Avenue in addition to “gala” celebrations across the country.

The last parliamentary elections were held on January 5, 2014 amid controversy as the BNP and most other political parties boycotted the polls terming it “farcical and one-sided”. At least 153 lawmakers were elected uncontested in that election.

In 2015, on the first anniversary of the polls, violence erupted across the country centring rallies and counter rallies of the parties. The situation remained turbulent for weeks.

The BNP was also not granted permission to hold a rally then. Police kept BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia confined to her Gulshan office by blocking the streets with sand-laden trucks.

An angry Khaleda called for a countrywide nonstop blockade from January 6 in an attempt to topple the government. The blockade went on until the last week of March.

At least 95 people were killed and around 1,500 injured in arson attacks on public vehicles during the blockade. 

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) has opened a Facebook page titled 'Rab Cyber News Verification Centre' to make people aware of false news and rumour spread during the upcoming general election.

Director General (DG) of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Benazir Ahmed revealed it at a press conference regarding the elite force's preparation for the 11th parliamentary election at its media center in Dhaka's Karwan Bazar today.

If anyone becomes confused about any news, he/she will have to share it on the Facebook page and the Rab team will instantly reply it after verifying the truth, said the Rab DG.

Rab officials will work round the clock, he added.

He also said the Facebook page will remain open to counter all lies, rumours and false news centering the election slated for December 30.

A total of 10,000 Rab members have been deployed across the country ahead of the election, said the Rab DG.

"If anyone dares to carry out violence in any place, we will obstruct them and the force is ready to resist them," he added.

Two army helicopters will remain standby on the election day, he said adding, "A special force will be kept standby for travelling to any part of the country if needed."

Benazir also requested all to inform them any kind of violent incidents so that they can take instant action.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today alleged that the Election Commission and police officials have formed an alliance against BNP and Jatiya Oikyafront.

He came up with the allegation at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan office in the morning.

"They (EC and police officials) have held a meeting to chalk out a grand plan to repress BNP and Oikyafront leaders and activists ahead of the parliamentary elections," Rizvi said.

He claimed that the EC is working round-the-clock to ensure level-playing field for the ruling party.

"The police force will diligently work in league with the EC so that a free and fair election cannot be held. The victory of the Oikyafront is inevitable if a free and fair election is held,” he claimed.

About filing of "fictitious" cases, he said, “filing of such cases is continuing uninterruptedly though the police commissioner said that no more fictitious cases will be filed after the announcement of the election schedule".

"Although the electioneering has yet to begin, the AL nomination aspirants have launched their campaign in full swing using loudspeakers whereas BNP leaders cannot even hold meetings inside their residence," Rizvi claimed.

WHEN IS THE ELECTION?

Election Commission has revised polls schedule, deferring the 11th general election by a week to December 30.

The authorities have fixed November 28 as the deadline for filing nomination papers, December 2 for scrutiny and December 9 last date for nomination withdrawal.

The first schedule for the parliamentary election was December 23. Later, the commission rescheduled the election on December 30 following demands from several opposition political parties.

BNP has sought permission from Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to hold a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on November 8, marking “National Revolution and Solidarity Day”.

The party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi confirmed it to The Daily Star today.

Also read: BNP's 10-day events marking 'Solidarity Day'

The party has chalked out a 10-day programme to observe “National Revolution and Solidarity Day”, marking the “civil-military uprising” on November 7, 1975.

Rizvi made the announcement at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan headquarters yesterday.

BNP sought permission for the same programme at the same venue but it was denied by the DMP last year.

Amid political turmoil, soldiers and civilians on November 7, 1975 jointly freed then chief of army staff Ziaur Rahman from captivity in Dhaka cantonment, paving the path for Zia to come to power.