18-party, govt face off over march to Dhaka
he government and the opposition are on the verge of a face-off, as the BNP-led alliance is determined to make Sunday’s march to Dhaka a success to compel the government to postpone the January 5 election.
On the other hand, the government has taken a tough line and will do whatever is necessary to frustrate the opposition’s plan. It might refuse to give the opposition permission to hold the programme, according to government sources.
Meanwhile, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia said the government has to face dire consequences if it tries to obstruct the opposition’s programme.
She made the comment while exchanging greetings with a delegation of Christian community at her Gulshan office on the occasion of Christmas.
The main opposition party yesterday sought permission from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police to use loudspeakers around BNP’s Nayapaltan office on Sunday.
The BNP requested the DMP to provide adequate security to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and other leaders who would gather at the party’s central office, said Shamimur Rahman Shamim, assistant office secretary of the BNP.
Shamim was in the three-member BNP delegation that submitted the letter to the DMP commissioner’s office in the morning.
On Tuesday, Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia announced the Sunday’s programme and urged people from every corner of the country to join the march to force the government to postpone the January 5 polls.
Government sources said the opposition leader would be barred from joining the programme on Sunday, just six days before the national election.
State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku told The Daily Star that the opposition’s programme was aimed at thwarting the January 5 elections.
“If the BNP wants to create anarchy through its programme, the law enforcement agencies will take all measures to tackle the situation,” he said.
The government might soon go for a crackdown on leaders and activists of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami across the country to prevent them from joining Sunday’s agitation.
If necessary, the government would halt traffic movement to and from the capital like it did before BNP’s march to Dhaka programme on March 12, last year.
Leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League would take position at the four gateways to the capital from Saturday to bar opposition men from entering Dhaka, said AL sources.
In a joint statement, 15 AL lawmakers asked the law enforcement agencies to immediately arrest all identified criminals, saying many militants and criminals from different districts were taking shelter in the capital.
These anti-people elements are trying to create anarchy in the capital, they said.
The lawmakers also called upon the city residents to assist the law enforcers.
The Dhaka city AL will hold an extended meeting at the party’s central office at Bangabandhu Avenue today to decide its next course of action in the wake of the opposition’s programme.
The ruling party also asked its district-level leaders to remain alert and make sure that opposition activists cannot create chaos in any district.
Conversely, the BNP has instructed its grassroots men to take part in Sunday’s “March for Democracy” at any cost.
Assuming that the government would try to foil the opposition’s march to Dhaka, the party advised its grassroots leaders and activists to come to the capital two or three days ahead of the programme and stay with their relatives or friends here, said party insiders.
A number of party’s district leaders and activists told The Daily Star yesterday that many of them had already left for the capital in small groups as the government might suspend all communications between the capital and the rest of the country a day or two before the programme.
Party leaders and activists would be asked to stage sit-ins wherever they would be barred from marching towards Dhaka, said BNP insiders.
If the government resists Sunday’s programme, the BNP might hold a small rally in front of its office and announce the next course of action, they said.
BNP high-ups said the party chief would announce tougher programmes, including non-cooperation with the government, till the election day.
The BNP-led alliance will stage demonstrations today all over the country, protesting “attacks on its leaders and activists” during the last five spells of nationwide blockade.
Besides, the opposition will bring out processions in all upazilas, districts and city headquarters across the country.
Source: The Daily Star