Both the ruling Awami League and its arch rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party are gearing up to chalk out counter programmes in the capital Dhaka on October 28, weeks before the schedule for the next general polls are to be announced.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police is yet to permit any party to hold their grand rally—one for demanding the unlawful caretaker government, and another for foiling the BNP-Jamaat conspiracy to destroy the flourishing democracy led by Sheikh Hasina, who is also vigorously fighting for peace , liberty and communal harmony.
Common people along with traders are worried as BNP-Jammat is allegedly mobilizing their armed cadres towards the capital Dhaka in a bid to unconstitutionally topple the current elected government.
However, law enforcers are taking all-out preparations for protecting life and property of the city people at any cost.
According to the AL sources, the party is deploying its grassroots leaders and activists on the streets of Dhaka from Thursday to prevent any violence from BNP-Jamaat supporters ahead of the opposition rallies in the capital on 28 October.
The BNP will hold a mass rally at Nayapaltan on 28 October to press home its demands — resignation of the government and general elections under a non-partisan neutral government. Its ally Jamaat-e-Islami also plans to stage a rally at Motijheel on the day.
28 Oct rallies: BNP-Jamaat activists start arriving in Dhaka
The BNP and Jamaat are reportedly bringing in their leaders and activists from different districts to Dhaka well ahead of their rallies. The ruling AL fears that the opposition may use this opportunity to create anarchy and violence across the capital in an attempt to force the government to meet their demands.
To counter the BNP-Jamaat movement, the ruling party has already asked its leaders and activists in Dhaka and its surrounding districts to be vigilant and take up positions on the ground in advance.
In addition, AL central leaders are working to ensure that more than one million people attend the "peace and development rally", organised by the party's Dhaka Metropolitan North and South units, at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram mosque on 28 October.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader told leaders and activists, "On 28 October, you must be in the field to thwart the BNP's attempt at unrest at all costs."
On Wednesday, AL central leaders again met with the party's Dhaka and district unit leaders at the Dhaka District Awami League office in Tejgaon to finalise the next course of action.
AL's Dhaka divisional Organising Secretary Mirza Azam MP told journalists that outsiders cannot be allowed to come to Dhaka and disturb people's peace and security. Our party leaders and activists have been instructed to resist this on the ground.
He also said hundreds of thousands of leaders and activists from Dhaka and surrounding districts will attend the AL's 28 October rally.
Another senior AL leader on condition of anonymity said , "Prevention is key to responding to violence. If we can stop any attempts early on, we can maintain control of the streets. Important leaders and public representatives in Dhaka have been instructed to make all-out preparations to implement this strategy."
AL leaders involved in the implementation of the party's programmes are preparing to counter any attempt at violence immediately and prevent BNP leaders and activists from occupying the streets in the early hours of 28 October. Vigilance will be increased in Dhaka and neighbouring districts and upazilas from Thursday.
These leaders are concerned that incidents often escalate before the law enforcement agencies can take action. Therefore, they have instructed field-level leaders and activists to be prepared to control or prevent any attempts at arson or vandalism.
AL leaders and activists are closely monitoring their respective neighbourhoods for suspicious people and activities.
If they find someone suspicious, they will interrogate him or her and hand him or her over to the law enforcement agencies if necessary.
AL's Dhaka Metropolitan North unit General Secretary SM Mannan Kochi said, "We fear that BNP outsiders may create violence in Dhaka. Therefore, our leaders and activists will interrogate strangers they see in their neighbourhoods. We will not allow anything to happen that could disturb the security of the people of Dhaka."
Meanwhile, BNP-Jamaat leaders and activists from various districts have begun to arrive in the capital Dhaka ahead of the rallies in the capital on 28 October.
Party insiders claimed that they are staying at the houses of relatives to avoid arrest and harassment.
Leaders and activists from distant districts are reportedly arriving first in Savar, Gazipur, and Narayanganj, which are close to Dhaka.
A BNP district top leader on condition of anonymity said, "We have made extensive preparations to make the rally a success. We will join the rally in any way possible. Everyone in Dhaka will be responsible for their respective duties."
The main party along with the youth and student fronts are also preparing extensively, he also said.
"Some leaders and activists in the district have already left for Dhaka and about 3,000 leaders and activists from Panchagarh are preparing to leave by the 26-27th."
BNP Chairperson's Adviser Mizanur Rahman Minu also said that one-fourth of the BNP leaders and activists from Rajshahi who will be attending the grand rally in Dhaka have already arrived in the capital.
By Wednesday, most of the leaders and activists will arrive in Dhaka by bus and train. Only those who have urgent work will come to Dhaka on the 27th, he claimed.
Kushtia District Jamaat Secretary Suja Uddin Joardar admitted that leaders and activists from Kushtia are going to Dhaka, more than ever.
A large number of them, whose relatives live in Dhaka, have already left for Dhaka, he disclosed.
BNP and its allied organizations have hatched a conspiracy to destabilize the government by laying siege to the Bangladesh Secretariat on 30 October. The announcement of the programme may be made from the Dhaka grand rally on the 28th.
Besides, protests, demonstrations, blockades, and even strikes may be announced in succession.