The two major political parties in the nation are once more clashing in the streets. Awami League (AL) President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will return home on October 4 after a long visit to attend the United Nation General Assembly. And at this time, the political situation in the country is getting tense. This hot situation is likely to continue not only for the rest of September, but throughout the month of October. The Awami League announced a 12-day programme at the party forum yesterday, the day after BNP announced its 15-day programme yesterday.
BNP's announced programme will end on October 3, while AL's announced programme will end on October 4. Opposition parties, including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, are likely to announce a new programme from the second week of October. AL may also announce a new program keeping in mind the programs of the opposition parties. Therefore, the entire period before the election schedule will be on the streets.
BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan announced the programme from September 19 to October 3 at a press conference at BNP chairperson's Gulshan political office on Monday. BNP will hold rallies in Jinjira, Keraniganj and Tongi in Gazipur district on September 19. On the same day, a joint meeting was held at AL president Sheikh Hasina's political office at Dhanmondi in the capital at 12 noon day. The ruling AL has announced a 12-day counter-programme across the country, including the capital, after a joint meeting with the secretaries of Bangladesh AL and presidents and general secretaries of Dhaka Metropolitan North and South AL and its associate organizations. However, the AL says it is not giving any counter-program. They are carrying out their programmes for the needs of the party and the time.
AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif briefed reporters after a meeting held at AL president Sheikh Hasina's political office in Dhanmondi yesterday. He said the rally will be held at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram on September 23 under the initiative of Metropolitan North and South. On September 5, at 2:30 pm, the rally will be held at Metropolitan North AL Uttara and Metropolitan South Jatrabari. The rally will be held in Keraniganj on September 26.
Gazipur City AL will hold a rally in Tongi on September 27. On the same day, The Metropolitan North AL will hold a rally at Kafrul in Mirpur, Dhaka. Sheikh Hasina's birthday will be celebrated on September 28 and Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi doa mahfil will be held on the same day. It's the same program across the country. A discussion meeting marking Sheikh Hasina's birthday will be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on September 29. On September 30, a farmers' rally will be organized by Krishak League at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram at 2:30 pm. After this, a rally will be held at Mirsarai in Chattogram on October 4.
Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif said BNP-Jamaat are trying to destabilise the country in the name of democracy and human rights and conspiring to foil the election. AL will be in the field to prevent the evil activities of BNP-Jamaat. "Whether BNP will come to the polls or not is up to them. I hope everyone, including BNP, will participate. But if there is an attempt to sabotage the election, it will be dealt with. Asked whether the AL's programme is a counter to BNP's, Hanif said, "There is no counter program, our continuous program will continue till the election." Advocate Kamrul Islam, one of the members of the AL presidium, told this reporter of Daily Post that they are not giving any counter program. This is part of their regular program. They will also be in the field until the election.
According to the program analysis, BNP will hold Barisal-Jhalokati-Pirojpur-Patuakhali road march on September 23. On that day, The Metropolitan North and South AL will hold a rally at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram. On September 25, The Metropolitan North AL will hold rallies in Uttara and Metropolitan South Jatrabari at 2:30 pm on the same day. On September 26, BNP will hold khulna divisional road march and professional convention in Dhaka, while AL will hold a rally in Keraniganj. On September 27, BNP will hold public rallies in Dhaka metropolitan Gabtoli and Narayanganj district's Fatullah, while Gazipur City AL will hold rallies in Tongi on the same day. On the same day, The Metropolitan North AL will hold a rally at Kafrul in Mirpur, Dhaka.
BNP will hold a women's rally in Dhaka on September 29, while AL will hold a discussion meeting at Bangabandhu International Conference Center on the occasion of Sheikh Hasina's birthday. The next day, BNP will hold a workers' convention in Dhaka on September 30, while on September 30, a farmers' rally will be organized by Krishak League at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram at 2:30 pm. Later, on October 1, a road march from Mymensingh to Kishoreganj was announced. Farmers rally in Dhaka on October 2. The next day, BNP will hold a rally in Comilla-Feni-Mirsarai-Chittagong road march on October 3, while AL will hold a rally in Mirsarai of Chittagong on October 4. That is, the two main political forces of the country, AL and BNP, will be facing the field with the program.
JH
