Awami League has announced peace rallies across the country on Sunday as part of a counter political programme of BNP announced hartal.
“Tomorrow, party leaders of the cities, districts, upazilas all over Bangladesh will organise peace rallies," Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said on Saturday.
Quader made the announcement while addressing a peace rally at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. He was attending the event as the chief guest.
Criticizing the BNP, Quder said, "Let`s see who stands by you (BNP) from tomorrow. The leaders run away, the supporters also run away behind them.”
“Where is Fakhrul? Where is BNP? Where did they go? BNP’s great journey is now dead,” he added.
“No one will accept their hartal for anarchy. That weapon has become blunt. We will hold peace rallies in the cities, districts, upazilas all over Bangladesh tomorrow,” said the AL leader.
“Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was in Chattogram during the clashes in the capital. She couldn’t even have lunch due to worries,” he said.
“Let`s see what they do,” Quader quoted the PM as saying.
A policeman was killed and at least 41 cops were injured in clashes between law enforcers and BNP-Jamaat men in Dhaka’s Motijheel, Kakrail and Naya Paltan areas this afternoon.
A chase and counter-chase between police and BNP leaders, activists occurred in Dhaka’s Kakrail area.
Witnesses said leaders and activists of BNP brought out a procession in the Kakrail area and started going towards InterContinental hotel around 1 pm.
At one stage, police obstructed them, and BNP leaders, activists started throwing brick chips at the law enforcers.
Later, police fired rubber bullets, used sound grenades and tear gas shells to disperse them.
