BNP rally permission depends on cops’ decision: Home minister

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today said the BNP's proposed rally on March 29 at Suhrawardi Udyan in Dhaka is subjected to the permission from Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner's office.

"If the DMP Commissioner considers that there will not be a problem on the security issue on March 29 for allowing BNP to hold its proposed rally, then the DMP itself would take necessary measure," he told newsmen after a meeting with a BNP delegation at his office.

A-three member delegation comprising BNP's standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan , vice chairman Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Air Vice Marshal (retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury met the Home Minister.

Kamal said the BNP leaders sought permission for holding a rally at the Suhrawardi Udyan on March 29, adding, "The matter of permission in this regard is under the DMP jurisdiction and the law enforcement agencies are responsible to ensure security of the BNP's rally."

"We have no objection for BNP's rally or meeting, because BNP as a political party has the right to hold rallies and meeting and the party has held meetings and rallies earlier," the minister said.

He said, earlier BNP did not get permission on intelligence information about the security issue, although the party has held its rally by changing date and venue.

On BNP's allegations about detention of their workers and activists countrywide, Kamal said the law enforcement agencies do not arrest any person without any cause, adding, "They were arrested on valid allegations of crime."