The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) plans a grand rally in Nayapaltan, but suspicions arise over its intentions to exploit religious sentiments and potentially create unrest in the political landscape.
The political landscape in Bangladesh is becoming increasingly tense as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) gears up for its much-anticipated “grand rally” in Dhaka. The rally, initially scheduled for July 27, has been postponed to July 28, as the party’s senior joint secretary-general, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, announced. However, behind this sudden change lies a cloud of controversy and allegations of political machinations.
The BNP accuses the government of making widespread arrests of its leaders and activists, attempting to suppress their so-called “peaceful demonstrations”- where the party has been engaged in intentional fights with law enforcement, creating chaos in the places and making citizens the ultimate sufferer. Meanwhile, concerns are mounting that BNP, in alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami-Shibir, may exploit religious sentiments to incite violence during the Friday rally.
In the midst of these developments, the country braces itself for a potentially volatile situation created by these political parties in tomorrow’s “grand rally.”
The announcement of the grand rally
Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the Senior Joint Secretary-General of the BNP, declared “BNP’s grand rally will be held in Nayapaltan.”
During a press conference at the party’s central office in Naya Paltan on Thursday afternoon, Rizvi made this statement. Rizvi alleges that over 500 party members have been arrested across the country in connection with the forthcoming event. This narrative of being persecuted by the authorities has become a recurring theme in the BNP’s playbook.
Despite the allegations of arrests and violence against its members, the BNP insists that it remains committed to peaceful demonstrations. However, it is essential to question the validity of these claims, given the party’s history of resorting to disruptive tactics and creating chaos during previous events. Even in the last few rallies organized by BNP have seen clashes with law enforcement, violence on roads, attacks on properties and unbearable traffic congestion and transportation shortage throughout the cities.
The postponement, alleged political agendas, and the “Friday Factor”
The BNP’s fixation on Nayapaltan, the party’s central office in Dhaka, is quite telling. It is the chosen location for their grand rally, and it seems that the BNP’s strategic decisions revolve around this site. Moreover, the decision to postpone the rally by a day has raised eyebrows, and concerns are growing over potential motives.
Some believe that the BNP may be collaborating with Jamaat-e-Islami-Shibir to exploit religious sentiments during the Friday rally. The location of the rally, proposed around the revered Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, raises even more suspicions about possible planned violence. Although the venue has not been officially approved for the rally, BNP’s intentions have drawn criticism from various quarters.
Choosing Friday for their rally further underscores the BNP’s attempt to exploit religious sentiments. The day holds special significance for Muslims, making it an opportune moment for the BNP-Jamaat alliance to mobilize their supporters and potentially create chaos. By leveraging religious emotions, they hope to generate a more significant impact and attract broader attention to their cause.
Jamaat in the fore
The Jamaat-e-Islami-Shibir has a dark history of instigating violence under the guise of religion. Their past actions, such as desecrating the Quran and orchestrating brutal attacks, demonstrate a willingness to create unrest and destabilize the nation for their political gain. With around 40,000 Shibir activists expected to converge in Dhaka, concerns are mounting about potential disruptions and clashes during the grand rally.
As a precaution, the law enforcement forces have not yet approved the venue for the rally, The BNP’s insistence on gathering around Nayapaltan despite the lack of permission suggests that they might be exploiting religious sentiments to instigate violence and provoke the law enforcement forces.
Lastly, as the BNP’s grand rally looms closer, the party’s history of resorting to violence, coupled with its obsession with Nayapaltan, raises valid concerns about their intentions. It remains to be seen how events will unfold, and the eyes of the nation are watching closely as the day of the rally approaches in this crucial time before the election.
