Student-public's counter rally at Zero Point ends with no sign of AL activity
As part of observing 'Noor Hossain Day,' Awami League had announced a rally this afternoon at the Zero Point, where Noor was killed on 10 November 1987
Students and supporters of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement ended their programmes at Gulistan's Zero Point intersection and surrounding areas to counter a rally called by Awami League (AL) this afternoon at the same location to protest what they called a "misrule" in the country.
Organisers of the student-public counter rally announced the end of their programme at around 4:14pm, our correspondent reports from the spot.
The movement's leaders and activists were stationed at the Shaheed Noor Hossain Chattar at Zero Point and in front of the AL central office on Bangabandhu Avenue since 8am and chanting various slogans against AL.
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They also set up a temporary stage on the main road in front of the General Post Office, near the south gate of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, for a mass rally.
The rally started at around 12:30pm. Anti-discrimination Student Movement Convener Hasnat Abdullah and Coordinator Sarjis Alam were present.
Meanwhile, there has been no sign of any rally or procession by AL or its affiliated organisations across the capital. This was the first-ever demonstration called by the Awami League since its ouster from power on 5 August through a student-led mass upsurge.
Due to the students' rally, traffic has been stopped by barricading the road from Zero Point to the Bangabandhu National Stadium, Gulistan intersection, Tikatuli and Motijheel.
However, vehicular movements on other roads from Zero Point are normal.
Until 3:30pm, there were heavy traffic jams in Paltan, Baitul Mukarram, Dainik Bangla Mor, Gulistan and Golap Shah Mazar areas and on the roads to Old Dhaka. However, other parts of the capital are not seeing much pressure.
Vehicular movements in the Paltan intersection and Gulistan area are slightly slow due to the rally at Zero Point, Shakil, assistant commissioner of the Ramna traffic division. "However, vehicle movement is normal in the Shahabag area."
Meanwhile, leaders and activists of BNP and its affiliated organisations have also been in front of the AL office on Bangabandhu Avenue since last night (9 November).
This morning, more BNP supporters, including leaders and activists of Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal and Mohila Dal, were seen marching and taking position there as well.
They also beat up some people on suspicion of being AL activists and handed them over to police officials, who later detained them.
The detainees have been taken into custody for questioning, said Paltan police station Officer-in-Charge Kazi Nasirul Amin.
Apart from the Anti-discrimination Student Movement and affiilated organisations of BNP, leaders and activists of various organisations including Jamaat-e-Islami, Gono Odhikar Parishad, and Inqilaab Mancha also converged in the area. Many were seen wielding sticks.
Security was beefed up at Zero Point, Bangabandhu Avenue and the surrounding areas from last night.
A large number of police personnel, both uniformed and plainclothed, have been deployed in the area to avoid and control any untoward situation, said Mohammad Farabi, assistant commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Motijheel Zone.
In addition, a water cannon was seen at Zero Point and a water cannon and riot car were seen on Bangabandhu Avenue. Members of Border Guard Bangladesh were also seen patrolling the area.
Earlier on Saturday, from its verified Facebook post, Awami League announced a gathering at Zero Point at 3pm today and urged its activists to come and protest against what they called "misrule".
"Our protest is against the deprivation of the rights of the people of the country; Our protest is against the rise of fundamentalist forces; our protest is against the conspiracy to disrupt the lives of the common people," read the Facebook post.
Since then, there have been many posts on AL's Facebook page, urging its supporters, garment workers, and general people to join the rally. The last post made at 1:15pm today also made the same call.
Meanwhile, Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief adviser, on Saturday said AL would not be granted permission to hold a protest programme in Dhaka city on 10 November.
"The Awami League in its current form is a fascist party. There is no way this fascist party will be allowed to hold protests in Bangladesh," he wrote in a post on his personal Facebook profile.
"The interim government won't tolerate any violence or any attempt to break the law and order situation in the country," the post further read.
Later on, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, an adviser to the interim government, said law enforcers would take stern action if any organisation linked to the mass killings tried to hold any political programme.
On 10 November 1987, Noor Hossain, a leader of Awami Jubo League, was killed in police firing while protesting against the then autocratic rule of Gen HM Ershad at the capital's Zero Point near Gulistan.
