BGB deployed in Dhaka

The BGB personnel were deployed at 7:00pm, Muhammad Mohsin Reza, public relations officer of the border troops, told The Daily Star.

Meanwhile, four platoons of BGB have already been deployed in Chittagong city this morning as the main opposition BNP vowed to hold its planned rally at Laldighi Maidan on October 25 defying an indefinite ban.
The authorities also deployed four platoons of BGB members in Sylhet city this afternoon in the wake of BNP’s planned rally for tomorrow.
In another development, the authorities have called BGB troops in Bogra town centering tomorrow’s demonstration of the 18-party opposition combine in the district.

Border Guard Bangladesh members in pickups patrol City Gate area in the port city of Chittagong on Thursday. Photo: Star

DHAKA
The authorities deployed the BGB troops in the capital at 7:00pm today to avoid any untoward incident following tomorrow’s rally, the BGB official said.
It was not known immediately how many days the deployment will continue.
CHITTAGONG
Four platoons of BGB have been deployed in Chittagong city this morning as the main opposition BNP vowed to hold its tomorrow’s scheduled rally at Laldighi Maidan.
The deployment came a day after the Chittagong Metropolitan Police imposed the indefinite ban on political meetings, rallies and demonstrations from today in the wake of growing tension over the ruling Awami League and BNP’s announcement of holding rallies at Laldighi Maidan in the port city.
However, after the imposition of the ban, the AL decided to hold indoor rallies while its rival party BNP declared to hold rally at its scheduled venue–Laldighi Maidan.
“The deployment came from 6:00am to avert any untoward incident in the wake of BNP’s announcement to hold rally at Laldighi Maidan on October 25,” Banaj Kumar Majumder, additional commissioner (crime and operation) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, told The Daily Star this morning.
The deployment will continue until further order, Majudmer added.
Earlier on October 19, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) imposed a ban on political meetings, rallies and demonstrations in the capital.
Tension runs high in the capital and elsewhere in the country over a possible face-off between the AL and BNP, as the rival parties plan to hold rallies tomorrow in four cities, including Dhaka.
The BNP is scheduled to hold an anti-government rally at Laldighi Maidan on October 25 and sought booking from the authorities concern for four days from today.
The main opposition party has also a plan to launch a movement to oust the government from the rally.
On the other hand, the Awami League also asked for the booking for holding rally at the same venue and time “to resist the possible anarchic activities by the BNP men”.
In the prevailing situation, the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) slapped the ban from yesterday and deployed four platoons of BGB troops from today.
SYLHET
The BGB members have been deployed in the Sylhet city this afternoon to avert violence ahead of a rally of BNP-led 18-party opposition scheduled for tomorrow, reports our Sylhet correspondent quoting Nibash Chandra Majhi, commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP).
Four platoons of BGB men have already been deployed in addition to Rapid Action Battalion and police in the city around 4:00pm fearing violence as a tense situation prevailing in the city over BNP rally, the commissioner added.
The city unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League and Jubo League
Sylhet city BNP unit called the rally at the Court point Friday (October 25) afternoon, while the AL is to hold rally today afternoon. Ruling party Al men are scheduled to hold processions tomorrow.
BOGRA
The local authorities called the BGB troops in Bogra town to avoid any untoward incident following the October 25 showdown of both the political rival parties.
“We’ve already asked for the deployment of three platoons of BGB in Bogra,” said Arifuzzaman, Nejarat Deputy Collector (NDC) of Bogra.
The BGB personnel are expected to begin their patrolling from this evening as they are coming from the neighbouring district Naogaon, reports our Bogra correspondent quoting official concerned.