BNP wants Nayapaltan for Jan 5 rally

BNP has sought permission to hold a rally at Dhaka’s Nayapaltan on January 5, marking the “democracy killing day” on the fourth anniversary of the parliamentary elections in 2014.

“We want permission to hold a rally in front of BNP party office in Nayapaltan on January 5, If we are not allowed to hold it at Suhrawardy Udyan,” BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office today.

He said they have already submitted letters to Dhaka Metropolitan Police and Dhaka South City Corporation seeking permission to hold the rally at Nayapaltan as the alternative venue of Suhrawardy Udyan.

Read More: AL, BNP to stage show of strength on Jan 5

The last parliamentary election was held on January 5, 2014, amid controversy as the BNP, main opposition in the immediate past parliament, and most other political parties boycotted the polls. As a result, 154 lawmakers were elected uncontested in the 10th parliament.

The BNP-led alliance enforced a 99-day nationwide blockade of rail, road and waterways from January 6, 2015, after it was denied permission to hold a rally in the capital's Nayapaltan on the first anniversary of the 2014 polls.

BNP has been observing the January 5 as “Democracy Killing Day,” while AL with the view of “democracy and constitution saving day.”