In Bangladesh, political tension has risen in Dhaka amidst Awami League (AL) announcing its first street programme after the fall of Sheikh Hasina-government on August 5, this year.

On Saturday, the AL on its verified Facebook page announced to observe the Noor Hossain Day and urged party men to come to the Shaheed Nur Hossain Square in Dhaka’s Zero Point at 3:00 pm on Sunday. However, tension has mounted after the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement announced a rally to counter programmes announced by Awami League marking the Shaheed Noor Hossain Day at the same venue.

The authorities have deployed 191 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh across the country to maintain law and order centering the observance of Shaheed Noor Hossain Day. Alongside the BGB, members of police, Rapid Action Battalion, and other forces have been kept vigilant across the country.

Police have set up checkposts at the Aminbazar entrance of Dhaka and have been conducting searches on Dhaka-bound vehicles since last night. Meanwhile, leaders and activists of the anti-discrimination student movement and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have taken positions in front of the Awami League’s central office on Bangabandhu Avenue and around Zero Point to foil the attempt of the Awami League to hold a large rally.

Earlier on Saturday, Press Secretary of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, Shafiqul Alam had said in a post on his verified Facebook account that the alleged fascist Awami League will not be allowed to hold rallies in the country. “The Awami League in its current form is a fascist party. There is no way this fascist party will be allowed to hold protests in Bangladesh,” he said.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police officials told media that though calls went out on social media for people to gather at the location, no approval was sought from the Police for the event from the Awami League party. 

By – Navalsang Parmar (Dhaka)