Is our government so weak that a proposed public meeting threatens it?

Leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League have started to take position in different areas of the capital, in the name of “vigilant guard”, ahead of the BNP’s December 10 rally.

Fearing sabotage ahead of the BNP's Dhaka rally on December 10, law enforcers have beefed up security at all entry points and other key locations in the capital.

CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance, has called on Bangladesh government to "halt its assault on the right to protest", investigate all violations by both state and non-state actors and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Ishaq Islam, president of a union unit of pro-BNP Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, and 300 others blocked Narayanganj Ring Road on November 20, blasted crude bombs, and vandalised vehicles, according to a case filed against them.

The government and the BNP appear to be on a collision course over the venue of the latter’s much-talked about December 10 Dhaka rally as neither would budge on its stance.

Soon after the DMP gave permission to BNP to hold its December 10 rally at Suhrawardy Udyan, the party said it will stage the programme in front of the Nayapaltan office.

BNP leaders and activists have started thronging Cumilla Town Hall ground, the rally venue, since early morning.

Bangladesh will miss the opportunity to hold a free and fair election if opposition parties do not participate in the polls, said Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan.

The ruling party is trying to fend off a persistent BNP campaign that, for the first time in many years, has managed to gain some public sympathy.

Bangladesh’s economic situation may worsen thanks to internal reasons mainly political crisis that will appear in the days to come rather than the external factors, said MM Akash, economics professor of Dhaka University.

Ahead of the general election next year, it is likely that there will be political unrest, social instability and turmoil.

AL must stop obstructing the opposition’s right to free assembly

Recent mass gatherings mobilised by BNP signal a change in their strategy

As the recent BNP rallies drew huge crowds in different cities, the Awami League is now preparing to hold rallies and other programmes across the country from next month apparently to show its strength.

The government is taking measures to snip out people who, they believe, have relations with the opposition or may somehow favour the opposition in the times of election.

The ruling Awami League and the BNP have once again started rallying lesser and sometimes even completely unknown political parties to form alliances.

BNP leaders alleged that police both in uniforms and plainclothes conducted raids at houses of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate organisations in Chattogram last night (October 11, 2022).

Mass arrests and police raids of opposition party members’ homes raise serious concerns about violence and intimidation ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Bangladesh due next year, Human Rights Watch said today (October 10, 2022).

The ruling Awami League and its arch-rival the BNP are working to bring like-minded political parties into their fold ahead of the next parliamentary election.