AL gears up to counter 'violence' ahead of 28 Oct
To counter the BNP-Jamaat movement, the ruling party has asked its leaders and activists in Dhaka and its surrounding districts to be vigilant and take positions on the ground in advance, AL sources said
The Awami League (AL) is deploying its grassroots leaders and activists on the streets of Dhaka from tomorrow to prevent potential violence from BNP-Jamaat supporters ahead of the opposition rallies in the capital on 28 October.
The BNP will hold a mass rally at Nayapaltan on 28 October to press home its demands — resignation of the government and general elections under a non-partisan neutral government. Its ally Jamaat-e-Islami also plans to stage a rally at Motijheel on the day.
The BNP and Jamaat are reportedly bringing in their leaders and activists from different districts to Dhaka well ahead of their rallies. The ruling AL fears that the opposition may use this opportunity to create anarchy and violence across the capital in an attempt to force the government to meet their demands.
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To counter the BNP-Jamaat movement, the ruling party has asked its leaders and activists in Dhaka and its surrounding districts to be vigilant and take positions on the ground in advance, AL sources said.
In addition, AL central leaders are working to ensure that more than one million people attend the "peace and development rally", organised by the party's Dhaka Metropolitan North and South units, at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram mosque on 28 October.
In a meeting on Tuesday, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader told leaders and activists, "On 28 October, you must be on the field to thwart the BNP's attempt at unrest at all costs."
Today, AL central leaders will meet with the party's Dhaka and district unit leaders at the Dhaka District Awami League office in Tejgaon to finalise the next course of action.
AL's Dhaka divisional Organising Secretary Mirza Azam MP told The Business Standard, "Outsiders cannot be allowed to come to Dhaka and disturb people's peace and security. Our party leaders and activists have been instructed to resist this on the ground."
He also said hundreds of thousands of leaders and activists from Dhaka and surrounding districts will attend the AL's 28 October rally.
Another senior AL leader told The Business Standard, "Prevention is key to responding to violence. If we can stop any attempts early on, we can maintain control of the streets. Important leaders and public representatives in Dhaka have been instructed to make all-out preparations to implement this strategy."
AL leaders involved in the implementation of the party's programmes are preparing to counter any attempt at violence immediately and prevent BNP leaders and activists from occupying the streets in the early hours of 28 October. Vigilance will be increased in Dhaka and neighbouring districts and upazilas from Thursday.
These leaders are concerned that incidents often escalate before the law enforcement agencies can take action. Therefore, they have instructed field-level leaders and activists to be prepared to control or prevent any attempts at arson or vandalism.
At a meeting of the central and metropolitan leaders of the AL at the party president's office in Dhanmondi on 21 October, it was decided that party leaders and activists would monitor their respective neighbourhoods for suspicious people and activities. If they find someone suspicious, they will interrogate him or her and hand him or her over to the law enforcement agencies if necessary.
AL's Dhaka Metropolitan North unit General Secretary SM Mannan Kochi said, "We fear that BNP outsiders may create violence in Dhaka. Therefore, our leaders and activists will interrogate strangers they see in their neighbourhoods. We will not allow anything to happen that could disturb the security of the people of Dhaka."
