Rizvi announces countrywide demo today

Bangladesh Nationalist Party announced countrywide demonstrations for today, protesting against what it said the government’s obstruction to its rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital, on Saturday.
The demonstration was also announced for ‘letting loose police and the ruling party’s armed men on BNP’s black flag processions’ in a number of districts and cities across the country, on Thursday.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a news briefing at the party’s central office at Nayapaltan announced the programme on Saturday. 
Police, armored personnel carrier, water cannon and prisoners van were stationed in front of BNP central office, since morning on Saturday.
Ramna zone assistant commissioner of police, Shibly Noman told reporters that police were deployed in front of BNP central office for maintaining public security because ‘they got a tip that BNP might forcibly gather in front of the party’s office after authorities did not permit their rally at Suhrawardy Udyan. 
The protest rally would be held at district headquarters and metropolitan cities throughout the country, and at thana levels in the capital, Dhaka. 
On December 28, 2016, BNP had announced a black flag procession, wearing black badges at district headquarters and cities– excepting Dhaka city– for January 5, to observe the third anniversary of the 2104 general election boycotted by all opposition parties. Major parties term January 5 as ‘democracy killing day’.
Rizvi said the government does not consider people as the origin of democratic power but they think police are the source of such power. 
Denying BNP to hold a rally once again proved that the government did close all the avenues toward democracy, he said.
He condemned what he termed the government’s ‘barbaric obstruction’ and alleged that the way the government threw democracy into a gas chamber, its consequences would be dire. 
He said flag of democracy of Awami League is waiving on water cannons and armored personnel carriers only to smash any programmes of the opposition.
Referring to Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader’s recent statement that BNP has been conspiring to grab power, ousting Sheikh Hasina, Rizvi asked him to cite an example in support of his allegation. 
BNP leaders Ataur Rahman Dhali, Sanaullah Mia and Belal Ahmed, were also present.

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