Dhaka: BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Wednesday said their party has not yet received permission to hold their planned public meeting at the Suhrawardy Udyan in the city on March 12 demanding their Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release, reports the UNB.

‘Though one week has elapsed, we’re yet to get permission to hold our rally. But, they (Awami League) canvassed through loudspeakers for their today’s rally over the last 10 days,’ he said.

They stopped the vehicular movement on roads while banners and posters are everywhere, the BNP leader said, adding: ‘We don’t want these things as we sought only permission (for our programme).’

Khosru, a BNP standing committee member, came up with the comments while speaking at a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club arranged by Swadhinata Forum demanding Khaleda’s release from jail.

Mentioning that the holding of a public rally is their party’s constitutional and democratic right, he said BNP is being deprived of such right.

The BNP leader said their party also sought permission to hold a rally at the Khulna Circuit House ground on March 10 as the Prime Minister had a rally there a few days back. ‘We’re denied permission. We’ve then sought permission to arrange the programme at Hadith Park. But we’ve not yet given permission. We don’t know what will happen on March 10.’

On March 2, BNP announced to hold the rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan demanding the release of Khaleda, saying it sought permission from the authorities concerned to this end.

The BNP leader said the Prime Minister is scheduled to address a rally at Chittagong’s Laldighi Maidan on March 21. ‘We’ve sought permission to hold a rally there on March 27.’

Awami League held their rallies at the venue over the last one month, he said, adding that but they have not yet got permission for their rally.

He said their party wants to hold its rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan on March 12 in a peaceful manner as they have been observing peaceful programmes since their chairperson has been jailed.