BNP won't be allowed to besiege Dhaka: AL leaders 

Awami League leaders, during Monday's rallies and processions at all wards across the capital city, said the ruling party will never allow the opposition BNP to besiege Dhaka. 

"We will be on the streets until the elections," vowed Dhaka North AL General Secretary SM Mannan Kochi, who was leading the Badda rally beginning at 11am.

Reiterating the ruling party's stance on holding the rally in response to "anarchy and arson violence" carried out by the opposition party, he said, "Awami League will not allow any further loss of life or property in fires set by the BNP."

He accused the opposition activists of launching attacks and vandalism and passing the blame onto the government.

Dhaka North AL President Sheikh Bazlur Rahman, who headed another rally beginning at the same time at Mirpur-1, said the ruling party leaders and activists will not allow the spread of BNP-Jamaat "anarchy". 

"Awami League will always be on the streets to counter any programme of BNP," he vowed.

He alleged that the BNP and its allies have set up various traps in implementing the agenda of foreigners, saying, "Awami League will not step into the traps. Any kind of conspiracy will be dealt with under the leadership of party chief Sheikh Hasina."

Apart from Mirpur-1 and Badda, activists of the ruling AL and its front organizations held daylong protests and rallies in every thana and ward in Dhaka North. Thousands of leaders and activists were present in these gatherings.

Earlier, the party's Dhaka North and South units had cancelled its "peace rally" to be held at the old trade fair ground in the capital's Agargaon area on Monday.

Earlier on 30 July, AL's Dhaka North unit said its leaders and activists would be on the streets for the next 150 days prior to the upcoming national elections.

The Dhaka North Awami League was scheduled to hold a rally at the old trade fair grounds in Tejgaon yesterday, the same day as the BNP's nationwide rallies.

However, an AL leader said the rally was cancelled due to "special reasons".

Krishak League, a ruling party affiliate organisation, held protest marches and rallies in front of AL's central office on Sunday.

Jubo League's Dhaka South unit held a protest march and peace rally in the capital on Sunday.