No rallies to be allowed on streets, says home boss

As the debate centering BNP's December 10 rally keeps evolving, the government has clarified that it is not allowing any such programmes on the streets.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Thursday said this while visiting the policemen injured during the BNP-police clash at Nayapaltan, said a press release.

A number of lawmen and BNP aicitvists were injured in the clash, with the injured policemen being treated at the Rajarbag Central Police Hospital in Dhaka.

Replying to queries of newsmen, Kamal said, "They (police) were performing their duties. They searched the office in presence of the BNP leaders and activists inside the building...They didn't vandalize anything."

Condemning the acts of throwing cocktail bombs and stones at police, Kamal said, "No such thing was happened that they had to turn this aggressive."

Reiterating that no rallies will be allowed on the streets, the Home Minister asked the BNP leaders and activists to talk with the DMP. 

"They (BNP) want to hold a mass rally on street, which will cause immense sufferings to the public," Kamal said.

"And so they were asked to hold it at Suhrawardy Udyan... we also suggested a place in Kalshi, Mirpur as we do not have a ground big enough for a mass rally other than this places," he said. 

While asked about overall law and order situation of the city, the minister said, "Everything is under control of the government till now."

A clash took place between BNP activists and police in the city's Naya Paltan area on Wednesday afternoon.

One person was reportedly dead while around 47 policemen were seriously injured as police alleged that they came under attack near BNP's central party office without any provocation. 

The injured were taken city's Rajarbag Central Police Hospital for better treatment.

BNP on Thursday proposed the Kamalapur stadium for its December 10 rally in Dhaka, while DMP said Mirpur Bangla College field could be an alternative, according to BNP's Vice-Chairman Barkatullah Bulu.