Before the BNP’s rally in front of the National Press Club in the capital, the leaders and activists of the party were chased by the police. Leaders and activists were seen throwing brickbats at the police.

The rally was called in protest of the proposal of late President Ziaur Rahman to cancel the title of Liberation War. 

Though the rally was scheduled to start at 10 am on Saturday (February 13), the leaders and activists started coming to the rally site long ago. A large number of police were deployed to avoid any untoward situation surrounding the rally. 

Meanwhile, the leaders and activists got into an argument with the police while trying to keep the traffic on the road in front of the press club normal. 

At that time, when the leaders and activists threw bricks at the police, at one stage it turned into a chase. Later, when the tension stopped, the BNP started a rally.

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that the decision to cancel the title of “Bir Uttam” was a failed attempt by Al Jazeera’s Damage Control.

At the time, BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said, “Injuries must be prevented, police work will be done by the police, but the movement must continue. He called on the law enforcement agencies to stay on the side of the people.”

He said that we have to fight to overcome any obstacle in the way of achieving the goal.

Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said those involved in the Bangabandhu assassination were in the vicinity of the Prime Minister. The government has rewarded them. The Prime Minister did not show respect to his father for power. 

He said that Ziaur Rahman got the title of Bir Uttam not by speech but by fighting. The BNP does not do business with Zia’s title, it is proud.

The demonstration is scheduled to be held at the metropolitan level across the country, including Dhaka.

Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its affiliates took part in the rally. The whole press club and the surrounding area have become heated with the processions and slogans of the leaders and workers.