BNP activist allegedly beaten up by AL men in Motijheel
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and three affiliated organisations of the Awami League on Friday held rallies at Nayapaltan and the south gate of Baitul Mukarram mosque, respectively.
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BNP activist allegedly beaten up by AL men in Motijheel
A BNP activist has been allegedly attacked by Awami League men outside Notre Dame College in the Motijheel area of the capital.
Md Anower Hossain, 28, was rescued and rushed to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Friday evening, having sustained severe injuries.
“Mahbubur's condition was serious, with visible injury marks possible due to being hit by sticks,” said DMCH police outpost in-charge Md Bacchu Mia.
Babu Gazi, a companion of Mahbubur, stated to reporters at the hospital that they were assaulted by Awami League activists wielding sticks while they were on their way to the BNP rally at approximately 4pm in the evening.
Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub Ul Alam Hanif said the BNP wants to come to power through the “backdoor”.
“The BNP is conspiring as the nation is hoping that the country will move forward under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina through the next elections.
“Today the BNP holds meetings with foreigners before every rally. Why do they do it? They want to come to power through the backdoor. We will not let anyone do so. We don't want another 1/11.
Mobile internet users facing connection issues near Nayapaltan
Many mobile internet users near BNP's grand rally in the capital's Nayapaltan are facing connectivity issues.
Our correspondents covering the BNP rally also reported similar issues near Paltan and Kakrail areas.
BTRC earlier said mobile internet and voice services get interrupted in areas with large numbers of users.
BNP begins its grand rally in Nayapaltan
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) started its grand rally to press home their one-point movement in front of the party's Nayapaltan office at around 2:15pm.
The rally started with a recitation from the Holy Quran.
BNP's one-point demand includes the resignation of the current government and election under a non-partisan government.
Thousands of activists and supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party gathered at Nayapaltan prior to the grand rally from early morning.
Meanwhile, BNP leaders and activists took out processions with banners and posters in many Dhaka parts, including Kakrail, Shantinagar, Malibagh, Purana Paltan and Motijheel.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the party's secretary general, will speak as the chief guest in this 3-hour rally under the chairmanship of BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas.
AL-affiliated party workers start to gather at Baitul Mukarram ahead of rally
Leaders and activists of three Awami League affiliated organisations have started to gather in front of the southern gate of Baitul Mukarram since this noon ahead of their "peace rally".
Bangladesh Chhatra League, Jubo League and Swechchasebak League are scheduled to hold a "peace rally" from 3pm on Friday (28 July).
"Rally will start at 3pm. It is our Dhaka Divisional Peace Rally so everyone is close. Many will join after Jumma prayers. We expect hundreds of thousands of people to attend," Swechchasebak League President Gazi Mejbaul Hossain Sacchu said.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader will be present as the chief guest of the rally.
BNP, AL rallies: Commuters suffer due to lack of public transport on Dhaka roads
Commuters in Dhaka are suffering today due to a lack of public transport on roads ahead of the BNP and Awami League rallies.
A Shekhar Paribahan staff said many bus owners did not start operating the bus services today due to the rallies.
"We're going to close the ones we have after noon," he added.
While visiting Mirpur 10 bus stop, at least 100 passengers were seen waiting for a bus. One or two buses that arrived after a long wait were already full.
"I've been standing for the last 30 minutes but could not get a bus," Moinul Islam, who is in a rush to go to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) to meet a patient, told The Business Standard.
Job candidates were seen waiting for public transport on Agargaon. They said the number of public transport on the road today is inadequate and they have been waiting for a long time for a bus.
Many passengers were seen waiting for buses in Abdullahpur as well.
Asked if there is such a transport crisis every Friday, Sumon, a passenger waiting in Abdullahpur, said transportation usually stays normal on Fridays as well.
"However, there is a transport crisis due to the rallies of political parties," he added.
Meanwhile, motorcycle and CNG drivers are demanding higher fares during to transportation crisis, further escalating commuters' sufferings.
Rubel, a biker who offers ride-sharing services said, "There are police checkposts everywhere. We are driving our bike today with a risk. That's the reason behind the higher fare."
Police checking passengers' phone at Dhaka entry points ahead of today's rallies
Police personnel were seen checking the mobile phones of many passengers at the entry points to Dhaka ahead the of massive rallies by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), three associate organisations of Bangladesh Awami League and other political parties scheduled for today.
Law enforcement forces have set up check posts at various entry points to the capital and have been conducting searching since Thursday (27 July) night.
One person named Fakrul Hasan was detained at the Abdullahpur checkpoint on Friday (28 July) morning.
He was going to Dhaka from Tongi. A photo of a BNP rally was found on his mobile phone. However, he claimed that he was going to Dhaka on business.
Road from Shantinagar intersection to Paltan closed
The road from Shantinagar intersection to Paltan is already closed. Buses from Gazipur are returning to Gazipur after failing to go through.
Law enforcers intensify stop and search at entry points to Dhaka ahead of Friday rallies
Law enforcement forces have beefed up their stop-and-search operations at various entry points to the capital ahead of massive rallies by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), three associate organisations of Bangladesh Awami League and other political parties scheduled for today.
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel set up a check post in Gabtoli on Friday (28 July) morning. RAB personnel on duty told The Business Standard (TBS) they were stopping and checking any vehicle if it looked suspicious.
"We have set up a check post here since 8:30am. We stop any suspicious vehicles and release them after checking. No arrests have been made since morning. We are checking whether there are any explosives or drugs. This is not to harass anyone or for any other purpose," they said.
In the capital's Abdullahpur, police were seen checking buses and other vehicles.
Some police personnel checked people's mobiles. If anything suspicious was found on the mobiles, they were seizing it.
BNP activists start gathering in front of Nayapaltan office
Leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) started gathering in front of the party's Nayapaltan office ahead of the grand rally today.
The activists started gathering in the early hours. The grand rally is scheduled to begin at 2pm. BNP sources said the party will start the rally after Friday prayers.
Meanwhile, BNP leaders and activists took out processions with banners and posters in many Dhaka parts, including Kakrail, Shantinagar, Malibagh, Purana Paltan and Motijheel.
BNP announced their grand rally from its youth rally on 22 July. The rally was primarily scheduled to take place on Thursday (27 July). But Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) did not permit the party to hold a rally on the road during a working day.
After much uncertainty and drama, the opposition BNP got the DMP permission to hold a rally in front of the party's Nayapaltan headquarters on Friday.
Meanwhile, the ruling Awami League's front organisations Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League and Chhatra League, also got the nod for a "peace rally" at the Baitul Mukarram's South Gate the same day. The Awami League rally began at 3:15pm, an hour after the BNP rally.
