Ruling Awami League’s Publicity Secretary Hassan Mahmud has said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will not only change the name of Gopalganj but of the country as well if she were to return to power.
He said this at a human-chain and protest programme at Bangabandhu Avenue in the city on Monday morning.
Awami League leaders and activists dominated the streets on Monday too in order to thwart the Opposition’s continuing effort to hold its march-to-Dhaka programme again this day.
Ruling party men formed human-chains and staged sit-ins in various parts of the city including Bangabandhu Avenue, Bangabandhu National Stadium, Adabor and Shyamali.
The demonstration was intended to ‘resist the anarchy’ unleashed by the BNP and its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami.
Speakers lambasted Khaleda for having said that she would change the name of Gopalganj, the district from where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hails.
The Awami League formed the Bangabandhu Avenue human-chain and held a demonstration around 9:45 am. At least 22 organisations took part under the banner ‘United Awami League Supporter Alliance’.
Awami League Presidium member Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya and State Minister for Law Qamrul Islam spoke, among others.
Hassan Mahmud said, given the chance, the Leader of the Opposition would not only change the name of Gopalganj of the country.
Khaleda had reacted sharply on Sunday when police prevented her from coming out of his residence in Gulshan to join the party’s rally at its Naya Paltan office.
She told a woman police personnel: “Where are you from, ‘Gopali’ (from Gopalganj)? We will change the name of Gopalganj, understand? Gopalganj will not exist any longer.”
Ruling party leaders criticised the BNP chief for her comment. Her effigies were also burnt in parts of the city.
Maya said Khaleda had brought from her house the national flag wrapped in tissue paper before waiting journalists.
“She has become insane. She needs an 11-member medical board for her treatment, unlike a five-member board for treating an ordinary patient,” Maya said.
Qamrul Islam said the dream of BNP chief over the Dec 29 rally had been shattered.
At the end of the human chain, the Awami League leaders and activists took out a procession that passed various city thoroughfares.
Source: Bd news24
