Jatiya Oikya Prokriya to hold rally tomorrow

Dr Kamal Hossain-led platform, Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, will hold a rally in Dhaka tomorrow as part of its effort to forge a greater national unity, ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election.

Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury-led Juktofront, leaders of other political parties, and noted citizens will join the rally, platform leaders said at a press conference at its Dhanmondi office yesterday.

The rally, expected to be chaired by Dr Kamal, will be held at Mahanagar Natya Mancha in the capital's Gulistan.

At yesterday's briefing, Gono Forum Executive President Subrata Chowdhury said they have already started working based on their earlier announcement of forming a greater national unity to ensure that people elect their representatives through a fair election.

Responding to a query on whether leaders of major political parties will be invited to Saturday's rally, he said he cannot say for sure but a “glimpse of how the unity will go and who will be included will be apparent”.

Oikya Prokirya Member Secretary ABM Mostafa Amin said Dhaka Metropolitan Police, on Tuesday, gave them permission for the rally.

He said initially they sought permission to hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan but the DMP declined.

Later they decided to hold the rally at Mahanagar Natya Mancha and sought DMP's permission on September 5 to this end.

However, the DMP commissioner on Monday informed that they would be allowed to arrange the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan, Mostafa added.

But time was too short to prepare for the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan, he added, suggesting the permission should have been given earlier.

He also said they had plans to mobilise leaders and activists from across the country but that changed due to the change of venue.