BNP resorts to rhetoric over Dec 10 rally: Hasan

“BNP leaders, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, have been demanding the resignation of the government for the last 12 to 13 years. And they are in one-point movement. We know and understand what will happen on December 10 as they already held rallies across the country,” he said.

The minister claimed that while the BN’P carried out pandemonium in certain areas, they went on picnics in others. Additionally, their pre-rally rhetoric at the divisional level was not reflected, he continued. In response to a question in the meeting room of his ministry at the Secretariat, Hasan said these to reporters. He claimed that the same individuals travel across the nation to attend BN’P rallies. People from Chattogram traveled to Barishal by launch, while those from Cumilla traveled to Sylhet. Even from Dhaka, Mymensingh, and other areas, he continued, people attended another BNP divisional rally.

“We also know and understand that what will happen in Dhaka. But the government is providing all out cooperation so they can hold their rally peacefully. For this, they held their rallies without any hassle,” said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary. On the other hand, he said, they (BNP) had carried out grenade and bombs attacks on Awami League’s rally when they were in power. They killed many people, ‘even I was injured during the brutal grenade attacks’, he added. But, he said, a single cocktail did not blast in their (BNP) rally and it has only been possible as the government has ensured full-proof security.

The minister said it is a question why BN’P wants to hold the rally in Naya Paltan. They are telling that a huge gathering will take place while some are claiming that 10 lakh people will gather in the rally, he added. Besides, he said, a TV channel aired a report yesterday that about 25 lakh people will gather in the rally. But, the fact is that highest 50,000 people could gather in front of their Naya Paltan office and it is understood that the rally is already a flop before staging it, he added.

He said the ruling party didn’t hold any rally by blocking any road. They (BNP) held their rallies at grounds at other areas. There is no such ground in the capita which can accommodate such a gathering they are telling about, he added. “In fact, I don’t see anywhere except Purbachal because there is no other place for gathering 10 to 20 lakh people except it. It is easy to understand why they want to hold the rally in front of Naya Paltan office. They want to create chaos like Hefazat Islam. They want to carry out vandalism and arson attacks on vehicles and public properties to create a special situation in the country. But the people of Bangladesh and Dhaka city will not allow them,” said Hasan.

On December 10, he declared, Awami League leaders and members will be on high alert in every ward. He continued, “The party’s (AL’s) base is firmly established, and all activists remain vigilant to fend off terrorists.” The minister stated that the associations of buses and trucks are private organizations and that leaders of all parties are members in response to a different question regarding the bus-truck strike on December 10. According to Hasan, it is their business, and the government has nothing to do with it.