Determined to foil the Awami League's bid to hold a large rally marking Noor Hossain Day, leaders and activists of the anti-discrimination student movement and BNP have taken position in front of the Awami League's central office on Bangabandhu Avenue and around Zero Point.

Photo: Amran Hossain

BNP leaders and activists were marching along the Bangabandhu Avenue and other streets in the area since morning.

Meanwhile, the students started gathering at Zero Point in Gulistan under the banner of "Fascism Resistance Platform" around 12:00pm, Amran Hossain, a photojournalist of The Daily Star, reports from the spot.

Photo: Amran Hossain

He said BNP processions have been going round Noor Hossain Square since 10:30am.

Amran said BNP activists identified three people as Awami League activists at Noor Hossain Square and handed them over to the police.

Photo: Amran Hossain

Key coordinators of the movement vowed to prevent "fascist Awami League" from holding a public demonstration. The students took control of streets around the Zero Point from early morning where Noor Hossain had been shot dead by the police on November 10, 1987, while protesting against military dictator General Ershad.

Ironically Noor Hossain, hailed as a champion of democracy and an inspiration of many a protester, was a leader of Awami League's youth front, the Jubo League.

The student movement against discrimination announced a mass gathering at Zero Point in the Dhaka's Gulistan today, demanding trial of the Awami League.

The student body came up with the announcement a day after the Awami League urged its leaders and activists to gather at Noor Hossain Chattar (Zero Point) at 3:00pm today to observe the Shaheed Noor Hossain Day.

Meanwhile, several political organisations including the National Democratic Front of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Workers Federation, Left Democratic Alliance, and Socialist Students' Front, have paid tributes to Noor Hossain yesterday, according to UNB report.

Photo: UNB

The leaders and activists of the parties gathered at Noor Hossain Square last evening and placed wreaths there, the report added.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said his party, if voted to power, will form a "national government" with participation from all parties that supported them throughout.

"If we are elected, we will not run the country alone ... So, where is the problem? Where is the doubt?" he said at a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club.

Highlighting the need for holding an election swiftly to save the nation, Fakhrul asked the interim government to focus on specific reforms.

"The public has started doubting you [interim government]. The people in the government are creating confusion by making various remarks. Focus should be on fixing the Election Commission, administration, and the judiciary to prepare for elections. The remaining work will be done by those elected."

Mentioning the lack of political expertise in the current administration, he said, "Factories, which are major assets of our country, are being set on fire. Why can't they address this? … They lack the political strength."

"None of these people [advisers] have political experience. Politics involves specific calculations and equations, which only politicians understand," the BNP leader said, adding that delays in holding polls will only exacerbate existing problems and create new ones.

Referring to the recent protests by the students of Government Titumir College, Fakhrul questioned the interim government's preparedness.

"Were they not intelligent enough to foresee this? Why were preventive measures not taken?" he stressed.

Urging the government for an election roadmap, Fakhrul said, "We demand polls in the interest of the nation, not for BNP's benefit. We submitted reform proposals supported by 62 parties. Review them and decide on which ones will be implemented."

"Announcing an election roadmap will restore public confidence," said the BNP leader, adding that he wants the interim government to succeed in their endeavors.

"We don't want Hasina to return," he said. 

BNP is considering rallies next month to push for a roadmap to election while keeping a close watch on the issue of the president's probable removal.

The party high-ups have already discussed the programmes, which will be finalised soon, said its leaders.

"Once the decision is finalised, we may hold rallies in every district and divisional city next month," a BNP standing committee member told The Daily Star last night, wishing not to be named.

Insiders said the party believes the issue of President Mohammed Shahabuddin's removal and "intentional" audio leaks of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina are part of a big conspiracy by a vested quarter to create a constitutional vacuum, which would ultimately delay the national election. That is why the party is considering street programmes.

"By holding programmes in November, we want to make our stance clear to the people," said a senior BNP leader who is involved in the process.

BNP has already begun talks with the like-minded political parties about the issue.

At the street programmes, it will press for an election roadmap, measures to check the price hike of essentials, and withdrawal of cases against its Chairperson Khaleda Zia and acting chairman Tarique Rahman.

BNP's allies will also hold programmes to press home the same demands, the sources added.

BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury yesterday said reforms should be carried out on the basis of political consensus.

Speaking at a programme, he said 10 commissions have been formed to come up with reform proposals, and they will submit reports within 90 days. "But new demands are being made. I don't know whether the reform commissions and the interim government support those demands. These issues seem contradictory," he said without referring to any issue.

On October 23, three top BNP leaders met Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and warned him of a potential constitutional crisis that may stem from the president's removal.

Syed Emran Saleh Prince, joint secretary general of BNP, said holding rallies and processions will be part of the party's ongoing organisational activities.

"We should step up our political activities as various issues are surfacing."

BNP leaders said the interim government's main mandate is to hold a free and fair general election to fulfil the nation's expectations, as people were deprived of their voting rights in the last three parliamentary polls.

"We can assume how much time the government needs to hold an election. We are ready to give that time. But if that time is over, we will do whatever is necessary," Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, BNP standing committee member, said at a discussion yesterday.

He said his party was ready to wait for the election, but the government has to declare a specific time for the polls.