The ruling Awami League (AL) and the Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have decided to hold their respective rallies at the Lal Dighi Maidan here on October 25, thus making the port city a political hot spot ahead of the national poll. This has sparked fears of confrontation and subsequent anarchy among the people. Alhaj ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, president of the AL’s Chittagong city unit, called upon his party members to form “special squads” and “people’s army” in every ward to resist the BNP and the Jamaat, while Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, president of the BNP’s Chittagong city unit, directed Opposition activists to constitute “sangram committees” in every ward to kickstart the “oust-the-government” movement.
Mohiuddin Chowdhury said: “The AL will organise a rally at the Lal Dighi Maidan on October 24 and 25 and all preparations have been made for the two-day rally. The AL has already applied to the Chittagong Metropolitan Police for permission in this regard.”
“We want peace. However, AL activists will not sit idle in their homes if anybody threatens them with lethal weapons. They will foil all conspiracies against democracy. They will take to the street on October 24 and 25 to resist the Opposition’s efforts to spread anarchy,” he added.
Mohiuddin Chowdhury called upon the Opposition to maintain peace in the port city. “We can arrange an all-party meeting to keep peace here,” he suggested.
Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said: “We’ve got the permission to hold a rally on the ground before the Awami League. On October 10, we applied for the permission to hold a rally at the Lal Dighi Maidan for October 25 and obtained it from the police. If the ruling party tries to put obstacles before us, we’ll fight them politically.”
The BNP leader urged the police administration to be neutral. He alleged that the government was trying to stifle the voice of democracy. “The people of Chittagong have decided to oust the government and they will take part in the rally,” he added. He urged all activists of the 18-party alliance to take part in the rally “to mark the beginning of the end of the AL’s regime”.
BNP leader Abu Sufian said: “We’ve already taken the permission to hold three rallies at the Lal Dighi Maidan on October 25, 26 and 27.”
Kaji Najrul Islam, assistant commissioner of the city special branch (SB) of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP), said: “We’ve received applications from both the AL and the BNP. They have sought permission to hold rallies at the Lal Dighi Maidan on October 25. The CMP authorities will take a decision soon.”
A senior CMP official, preferring anonymity, said: “The CMP will not allow any rally to be held on October 25 at the Lal Dighi Maidan if they anticipate violence and damage of public property to save people’s lives and wealth.”
The BNP has already formed “sangram committees” at almost 566 poll centres in four constituencies of the city area. The AL, on the other hand, has formed “special squads” at 41 wards of the city area.
The current political unrest has escalated tension among retail traders and businessmen of the port city are passing their days in fear.
Mohammed Akbar Ali, a shop owner at Momin Road, said: “We don’t know what will happen on October 25. We’re fearing the worst.”
Abul Kalam, a vegetable trader, said: “Prices of vegetables will be high for lack of supply during the political unrest.”
Parents and guardians fear that school exams may be hampered. Mahamuda Minu, a homemaker, said: “The school authorities have issued circulars to complete the annual exams within November. But the current political impasse may hamper the exam schedule.”
-With The Independent input
