Within three weeks after the 12th parliamentary polls, both the ruling Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party have again taken to the streets with their respective political actions, creating a fresh round of tension among the people.
The ruling camp will remain on the street with its march for peace and development programmes while the BNP, which boycotted the January 7 general elections, has taken to the street with a two-day ‘black flag’ march programme, demanding the cancellation of the 12th parliament polls, and the release of political prisoners, including hundreds of BNP leaders and activists, arrested before the polls on charge of carrying out subversive activities in a bid to foil the polls.
After the January 7 polls, the BNP on Friday has resumed its street programme. BNP leaders and activists are set to bring out a procession at 2:00pm on Saturday from Nayapaltan central office. Pointing fingers at the BNP, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday issued a note of warning that they would resist the BNP men with an iron fist if they resorted to violence in the name of political actions.
“You can carry out your peaceful political programmes. But if you resort to violence and carry out arson attacks, you will be resisted with an iron fist. None will be spared for carrying out such activities,” he said while distributing blankets among the cold-hit destitute people on historic Bangabandhu Bhaban premises in the capital.
Hinting at the BNP, the AL general secretary said in the name of movement, the BNP made the people suffer a lot.
“Punishment is a must for occurring such unholy activities. It is our decision that we will strongly handle such activities,” he said, adding that the AL would continue with its march for peace and development programmes.
Against the ruling party’s strong stance, the BNP and like-minded parties brought out processions holding black flags in all districts demanding the cancellation of the 12th parliament and protesting the growing price hikes of essential commodities.
Apart from BNP, Ganatantra Mancha, 12-Party Alliance, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, Gono Odhikar Parishad, LDP, Labour Party, Ganatantrik Bam Oikya, Gonoforum and People's Party brought out black-flag processions separately in different areas of the capital.
