Won't leave streets, will counter any movement: AL

The Awami League has vowed to stop BNP's sit-in programme at Dhaka entry points on Saturday while the party's three major affiliates jointly pronounced a five-point declaration.

"Heard you [BNP] will block the roads. You will take positions at the entrances of Dhaka. We will block your routes. Do not give us the stink eye. Our roots are very deep in this soil," Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said while addressing AL's peace rally on Friday.

The rally was organised by the ruling Awami League's three associate organisations – Chhatra League, Jubo League and Swechchasebak League –  at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram in the capital.

Countering BNP's sit-in, the ruling party and its affiliates announced that they will hold peace rallies at the entrances of Dhaka from 11am today.

Rallies will be held at all entrances of the capital including Abdullahpur, Tongi, Gabtoli, Aminbazar, Babu Bazar, Signboard, Kanchpur, and Jatrabari areas, Jubo League Deputy Office Secretary Delwar Hossain Shahzada told TBS.

The AL general secretary said, "We are not holding this rally for conflict, we are rallying to protect people's property and lives against those who committed arson and terror in 2013 and 2014."

Quader lambasted BNP's Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman, saying, "Tarique Zia is a thief, everybody knows it [Tarique Zia chor hain, gali gali main shor hain]."

"Tarique Rahman told Fakhrul that there will be no shortage of money for their movement," Quader alleged, questioning, "Where did Tarique get so much money?"

He also alleged that the BNP has appointed lobbyists with the money. "They wrote letters to the United Nations and the US ambassador. Where did they get this audacity? They have smuggled thousands of crores of taka."

He continued, "The game is on against Tarique Rahman, against vote stealing, against Hawa Bhaban, and against one-point [movement]."

Quader, also the road transport minister, said BNP's one-point movement is going nowhere.

Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash presided over the rally.

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," he said.

"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," he added.

AL Presidium member Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya said, "Today it is a rehearsal for us, the real thing is yet to come."

"If you look at Sheikh Hasina with any ill intentions, we will tear your eyes away. If Tarique Rahman has courage, he should come to Bangladesh and talk."

Also speaking at the rally, AL's Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim said the AL's victory march would not stop.

"Today, there is peace in the country. Today, Bangladesh is known as a respectable country. I want to tell the BNP and Jamaat that we are ready to face your ill-intentioned politics. We know how to cope. We have peace and elections," Nasim added.

Bangladesh Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain said their Friday rally is just the beginning and there will be bigger gatherings in the coming days.

"The gathering here today is a trailer. The movie is not over yet. There will be a bigger gathering in the coming days. Today's student society has a responsibility to our parliamentary democracy," he said.

Saddam Hossain said, "Many are roaring in the streets. But they have forgotten about their defeat in the streets."

"Paltan can never win; Baitul Mukarram will win," he added.

5-point declaration

At the rally, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Jubo League and Swechchasebak League jointly issued a five-point declaration.

Afzalur Rahman Babu, general secretary of Swechasebak League, read the joint declaration.

It includes– organising students and youth to prevent terrorism; be on the streets against the conspiracy of evil forces; be steadfast to demand constitutional elections; to continue the development under Sheikh Hasina; and to strive in building a non-communal Bangladesh in the spirit of the liberation war.

Scene at the rally

Leaders and activists of three Awami League affiliated organisations started to gather in front of the southern gate of Baitul Mukarram on Friday noon ahead of their "peace rally".

Thousands of leaders and activists took a position on the two-way road from the meeting stage of the rally.

They took a stand with banner festoons on the road towards Purana Paltan from zero point.

A large number of party men from Keraniganj, Manikganj, Narayanganj, Rupganj, Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur took part in this rally in addition to different areas of the capital.

They attended the rally drenched in light rain that started from the time of Friday prayers.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) also held a rally in front of its party's Nayapaltan headquarters yesterday.

In addition to gatherings of more than 40 parties including Awami League and BNP in Dhaka on Friday, Jamaat-e-Islami also held a protest march in the divisional cities outside the capital.