After cancelling the annual convention of the BNP- backed Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad in the morning, the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) has allowed the event to be held on Sunday afternoon.
Within a few hours of declaring that the convention cannot be held in view of the Dhaka police ban on meetings, rallies and processions, the BICC okayed the event.
But police said the permission was given on conditions.
DMP’s Tejgaon Division’s Deputy Commissioner Biplob Kumer Sarker, who is responsible for the security in the BICC area, told journalists around 1:45 pm that the Peshajibi Parishad can organise its annual convention.
“Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad has been granted the permission on conditions,” said Sarker.
BNP chief Khaleda Zia is expected to attend the program as its chief guest. The program is scheduled to begin at 3pm.
Sarker said the organisers have been asked to confine the convention within the four walls of the convention center and no activities would be allowed outside the center.
He said the other conditions were that no loudspeaker could be used, the convention would have to be completely before dusk, and no violation of law would be allowed during the convention.
“The authorities have permitted the Peshajibi Parishad leaders to hold the convention after they accepted these conditions,” Sarker said.
The entrances to the center were opened immediately after this announcement. Parishad leaders entered the venue immediately afterward.
Dhaka police on Saturday banned all meetings, rallies, processions and human chains amid rising tensions over both BNP and Awami League planning to hold rallies on Oct 25.
The BICC on Sunday morning cancelled event following the ban.
Additional police have been posted around the venue since morning. A water canon and a prison van was seen parked on the road that goes by the venue.
BICC retracted its decision almost an hour after the organising body’s Convener Ruhul Amin Gazi vowed to hold the program at any cost.
He said opposition chief Khaleda Zia would also join the convention as its Chief Guest.
“Neither me nor our Member Secretary AZM Zahid Hossain received any notice or letter cancelling the booking for the venue. Our convention will start at 2pm and we will join the convention,” Ruhul Amin Gazi had said.
He wondered how the authorities could cancel the booking of the venue when they had paid Tk 5,80,500 on Oct 5.
Former Prime Minister and opposition leader Khaleda Zia will attend the program as its Chief Guest. We expect to receive her here a little after 2:30pm. We know she will come at any cost,” said Ruhul.
bdnews24.com contacted BNP’s Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi to get his reaction over the matter.
“The opposition leader has plans to join at the program. I will talk to the organisers and let you know about it later.”
Police watch has also been intensified around the Gulshan residence of Khaleda Zia in the morning. Security has been stepped up around the party’s Naya Paltan headquarters too.
Police officer Bilpob Sarker , about an hour before BICC retracted its decision, had urged all to respect the decision his department has taken for ‘ensuring security to the people and maintaining law and order’.
Source: Bd news24