AL course of action after BNP grand rally

18 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

The ruling Awami League (AL) will decide its course of action seeing the main opposition BNP's next anti-government agitation programmes to be announced today from a grand rally at Paltan. “First, they [BNP] declare their programmes, then we will decide as to whether we will take any programme to face them,” AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif told The Daily Star. Party insiders said AL would face the opposition politically on the street if it tries to create anarchy in the name of anti-government movements. However, AL won't go for any programmes if the opposition announces or observe peaceful political programmes democratically. “We have repeatedly said that the government has no objection if the opposition organises political programmes in a democratic way. They can criticise the government in a constructive way for the overall development of the country and point out its mistakes and weak points through their programmes,” said Hanif, also special assistant to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. About the allegations made by few BNP leaders in last few days that their party workers are being obstructed centering today's grand rally, he vehemently rejected it saying the opposition is trying to mislead the countrymen by spreading falsehood. “Can they [BNP leaders] show a single proof of obstruction? Where are they being obstructed? It's a total lie. We condemn their falsehood and hate the liars.” AL Organising Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim said the countrymen would give a befitting reply to BNP if they try to create any anarchy in the name of movements. Dhaka City unit AL General Secretary Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, who plays a crucial role in city politics, said when AL used to announce any programme while in the opposition, the then ruling party BNP resorted to mass arrest, threat, obstruct and attack their party workers to thwart their programmes.