AL turn out zero at Zero Point

Awami League did all it could do to bring out a rally in the capital's Zero Point area today. But the result was ultimately zero. 

There was no sign of any rally or procession by AL or its affiliated organisations in the area.

The party conducted a massive campaign on social media to encourage its leaders and activists to hold the rally at 3pm today marking 'Noor Hossain Day'. 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 Zero Point.

This was the first-ever demonstration called by the AL since its ouster from power on 5 August through a student-led mass uprising.

Yesterday, from its verified Facebook page, AL announced the gathering urging its activists to come and protest against what they called "misrule" in the country.

"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," reads 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 posts went viral on Facebook with thousands of comments and reactions.

The page claimed that AL activists took out a procession towards Zero Point but were met with obstructions from police, the BNP and Chhatra Shibir.

The AL also shared an eight-point directive this morning, urging the activists to observe the programme peacefully avoiding any trap of sabotage.

"If anyone is detained by the police, RAB, or the army, we will chant 'Joy Bangla' in unison, and everyone nearby will go to rescue them. Under no circumstances should you keep any information [party related] on your mobile phone," according to the directives.

It also said, "Save the names of familiar associates after different names in your mobile phone. Stay in contact with each other and communicate using code words."

The directives also include where gatherings are planned and movement in small groups.

"If there is resistance, remind the police whose side they are on—those who have killed you [police] by hanging on the streets? And finally, do not get locked into any arguments or debates with the army as they won't obstruct processions or meetings," reads the directives.

Meanwhile, students and supporters of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement took out processions and gathered at Gulistan's Zero Point intersection and surrounding areas to counter AL's rally.

The movement's leaders and activists have been 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.

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.

Leaders and activists of BNP and its affiliated organisations have also been in front of the AL office on Bangabandhu Avenue since last night.

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.

Meanwhile, Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief adviser, said AL would not be granted permission to hold a protest programme in Dhaka city today.

"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.

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.