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| Bangladesh |
| Jamaat to hold rally today defying ban |
| 2010-05-31 |
| [Bangla Daily Star] Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will hold its scheduled rally at the capital's Paltan Maidan today despite the ban imposed on rallies or processions in and around the venue. Secretary General of Jamaat Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid announced this at a press conference yesterday held at the party office at Bara Moghbazar in the city. Mojahid said they will gather at Paltan Maidan to hold their scheduled rally demanding smooth supply of water, gas and electricity. If any untoward situation arises centring the rally, the government will be responsible for it, he said. DMP Commissioner AKM Shahidul Hoque has imposed a ban on any kind of meeting at Paltan Maidan and its adjacent areas to avert untoward incidents as both Jamaat and Bangladesh Jubo League are scheduled to hold meetings at the same venue today. Mojahid said they will be bound to launch a tough movement against the government since it is preventing the party from holding rallies and carrying out other political activities across the country. Mojahid said that in response to Jamaat's request, Jatiya Krira Unnayan Parishad authorities on May 18 allowed it to hold its rally at Paltan Maidan today. But Bangladesh Jubo League on May 29 declared that it would hold a rally at the same venue on the same day, demanding trial of war criminals of 1971, he added. The Jamaat leader alleged that the Awami League-led government set Jubo League to create the situation leading to the ban on rallies. He sought the prime minister's intervention in the issue, withdrawal of the Jubo League programme, lifting the ban on rallies and allowing use of loud speakers at the scheduled Jamaat ally. Some other senior leaders of the party were also present at the press conference. Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain condemned the government's decision of imposing ban on the rallies at Paltan Maidan. |
| Posted by:Fred |