BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia called upon the government on Saturday to withdraw a ban on rallies and processions and cancel Awami League’s "counter-programme" for Sunday.
The opposition leader came up with the call hours after the Dhaka Metropolitan Police imposed the 18-hour restriction from 6:00am on any kind of rallies and processions in the capital.
She alleged that the ruling party planned its rally on the same day in a bid to thwart BNP’s mass processions in the city.
The former premier made the comments while addressing the 19th National Conference of the diploma engineers in the city.
Stating that peaceful and orderly demonstrations are the democratic rights of the people, she said the "failed government" has been detached from the people.
She threatened the government to face dire repercussions if Sunday’s programme is obstructed.
BNP has convened an emergency meeting of its national standing committee in the evening.
Khaleda announced the mass processions from a grand rally in Chittagong on January 9 to mount pressure on the government for the reinstatement of the caretaker government system.
