The ruling Awami League and all of its associate and affiliated organisations have adopted vigilance in capital Dhaka and elsewhere in the country to check the attempt of anti-democratic activities in the face of terrorism by the the BNP with anti-liberation forces Jamaat, killers of Bangabandhu and other vested quarters.
As per the directives of the party’s supreme command, the leaders and activists of the party and all of its affiliated bodies have taken this vigilant position to guard the life and property of the people of the country and continue the stability and democracy in the country.
According to sources, they already have started vigilance in different areas of the capital and elsewhere in the country.
Awami League men were seen to be active in many places of Dhaka from Wednesday afternoon. They are also holding protest rallies at several places.
Leaders of Awami League and Jubo League said that it has been decided to take position on roads ahead to BNP's rally.
As per the decision, they will remain alert on the roads on Thursday as well. However, they also claim that they do not want to get involved in a conflict with BNP activists.
On Wednesday afternoon, the party's leaders and activists from Dhaka city (South) gathered in front of the Awami League's central office at Bangabandhu Avenue. In the evening, Jubo League leaders and activists held spontaneous protests and demonstrations in Naya and Purana Paltan and Bijay Nagar areas.
Meanwhile, leaders and activists of Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League staged demonstrations in Jatrabari.
Besides, Secchasebok league leaders and activists protested in Sheorapara area of Kafrul. Chhatra League activists staged a protest from zero point of Gulistan to Paltan intersection.
The local Awami League units also held processions at Bhuter Goli, Hatirpul, and Rasel Square areas. The presence of the ruling party men would increase from the evening, the party sources added.
On Wednesday afternoon, a man was killed and several others were injured in a clash between the police and BNP activists in front of the BNP central office at Naya Paltan in Dhaka.
BNP announced protest programmes in all cities and districts on Thursday in response to the clash between their activists and police at the Naya Paltan head office in Dhaka.
Riaj Uddin, office secretary of AL’s Dhaka south city unit, said their activists have been instructed to remain vigilant in each ward and serve a befitting reply if the BNP men try to carry out vandalism anywhere.
The south unit will hold a rally at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on Friday ahead of the BNP's divisional mass rally.
Sources said a good number of participating AL men will be kept in the Bangabandhu Avenue area till Saturday, to keep a close eye on the movement of the BNP activists.
The party held a meeting at its office to decide the action plan for the BNP rally.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka north city unit will hold a rally on 13 December at Agargaon, where the trade fair used to be held. Under the mask of preparations for the rally, the ruling party men are exercising in different wards almost every day.
Meanwhile, Awami League leader Obaidul Quader on Thursday said that the ruling party is alert to the BNP's plan to create turmoil in the run-up to their 'grand rally' in Dhaka on Dec 10.
"We won't allow them [the BNP] to hold any rally on the streets," Quader said.
Accusing the BNP of promoting 'unrest' and 'disorder', the Awami League general secretary added, “They’re instigating people to engage in clashes with their grand rally on the horizon. They already implemented their plan to kill people by mobilising communal forces and militants.”
Quader said the government will bar the BNP from holding street rallies as it causes suffering to the people.
“They came up with the idea of holding a rally on the streets only to vandalise and torch [public property]. But we sussed out their intentions.”
The road transport and bridges minister ordered all local Awami League leaders and activists to remain vigilant without resorting to violence. “We won’t attack them, but we will react appropriately if they attack us.”
"We can’t yield to communal forces in the month that the country achieved victory [over the invading Pakistani forces]. We’ll handle any situation calmly.”
Moreover, the leaders of the Presidium bodies of the Awami League on Thursday held a meeting with the president and secretaries of the Dhaka North and South units of Awami League and all the affiliated bodies.
The meeting was held at the party’s central office located at Bangabandhu Avenue in capital Dhaka. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League, and party general secretary Obaidul Quader, among others spoke at the meeting.
Meeting sources said the participants of the meeting have been directed to remain alert and vigilant so that any evil force does not trouble the water and fish in troubled waters.