Shafiul Alam, Cox’s Bazar Correspondent
Cox’s Bazar district BNP could not hold a rally on Monday as the district administration had issued section 144. They immediately organized a 30-minute rally at another location. A crowd of several thousand leaders and workers was seen there.

BNP Cox’s Bazar district branch president and former whip Shahjahan Chowdhury said permission was sought from the district administration, which allowed the use of Muktijoddha Maidan.

“Two days after the permission was given, the administration was asked not to hold a rally on the ground. Later, it was decided to hold the rally in front of the district BNP office at Shaheed Saranistha. The administration was informed.”

The district BNP president said, “Work on the stage of the rally started from Sunday morning. At that time, it was suddenly heard that the Awami Jubo League had called a rally at the district central Shaheed Minar adjacent to the district BNP office. Section 144 was issued in the office and Shaheed Minar area.”

“Thousands of leaders and activists were under intense pressure to hold a rally in violation of Section 144. But we immediately decided to hold a peaceful rally elsewhere to avoid any untoward incident,” said Shahjahan Chowdhury.

Cox’s Bazar Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Abu Sufyan told reporters that the administration had issued 144 articles for 16 hours on Monday to keep the peace in the area as two political parties were holding rallies at the same place at the same time.

He said, “The BNP did not hold the rally at the pre-arranged place due to the administration’s ban. However, they (BNP) gathered at the central Eidgah Maidan some distance away and got the news that the law enforcers including the administration officials reached there.”

ADM Abu Sufian said that when the administration asked the BNP leaders to shorten the rally to avoid any untoward incident, they withdrew from there. On Monday morning, the district BNP office and the central Shaheed Minar area were visited, where the executive magistrate was stationed. A significant number of police are deployed. A team of RAB is located at some distance. Some curious people are watching the empty stage.

The rally was supposed to start at 2 pm on Monday. However, the rally was held at 10:30 am on Monday at the central Eidgaon Maidan in Cox’s Bazar. The administration gave only 30 minutes to complete the rally.

Nazrul Islam Khan, a member of the BNP Central Standing Committee and Mizanur Rahman Minu, former mayor of Rajshahi, an advisor to the special guest chairperson, addressed the rally under the chairmanship of district BNP president Shahjahan Chowdhury.

Nazrul Islam Khan in his speech called upon the people to unite in establishing their right to vote. The leader of the BNP standing committee said, “The life of BNP leader Khaleda Zia is in danger yesterday due to lack of proper treatment. She is being held captive and pushed to his death. We strongly condemn this behavior of the government.”

Nazrul Islam Khan termed the statement made by the law minister regarding Khaleda Zia’s treatment and release as inhuman and a violation of human rights. He said, “When Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader fell ill, world-renowned doctor Devi Sethi was brought to the country from India for treatment. Even then, the government sent him to Singapore for better treatment.”

“But the government is doing the opposite in the case of Khaleda Zia. Although it is possible to bring doctors from abroad, the country has not yet developed proper medical facilities. Therefore, it is necessary to send the BNP leader abroad for treatment to save her life.” Referring to BNP leader Khaleda Zia as the mother of millions of people, Nazrul Islam Khan said, “People of the country, including BNP leaders and activists, are ready to face any situation in the future to save their mother.”

Thousands of leaders and activists from remote areas of the district started gathering at Eidgaon Maidan from early morning after receiving the message from the responsible leaders. Thousands of BNP leaders and activists gathered around 9 am. Central leaders arrived at the venue at 10:30 am. At that time, Chattogram divisional organizing secretary Mahbubur Rahman Shamim, former MP of Cox’s Bazar Sadar constituency and BNP central fisheries secretary Lutfur Rahman Kajal and district BNP general secretary Shamim Ara Swapna were among the leaders and workers.

On the other hand, Ishraq Hossain, son of late Sadek Hossain Khoka was seen in a car in the crowd of leaders in Hotel Motel Zone. Lawyer Syed Ahmed Ujjwal, president of the Cox’s Bazar district branch of the nationalist Juba Dal, said at least 5,000 enthusiastic party leaders and activists from different upazilas of the district had moved to the district town yesterday to attend the rally.

Meanwhile, the Awami Jubo League took a stand at 11:30 am at Shaheed Daulat Maidan of Cox’s Bazar Public Library on the occasion of the 3rd anniversary of the victory of the present government in the last national elections.