BANGLADESH

The opposition has accused the ruling Awami League of threatening BNP leaders and activists in some areas of Sylhet district ahead of its road march to the city.

Speaking at a press conference at the party's Naya Paltan headquarters in the city on Saturday, BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged their leaders and activists were being threatened and provoked in Sreemongal and Moulvibazar areas.

"But such attempts of the ruling party (Awami League) won't work before mass gatherings," he added.

Rizvi said there would be huge human gatherings during their road march programme. "Our party leaders and activists have been received with great enthusiasm everywhere," he added.

The BNP leader said that party chief Khaleda Zia would address nine street rallies in Narayanganj, Kishoreganj, Brahmanbaria, Habiganj and Moulvibazar districts – which lie on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway – during the road march to Sylhet scheduled for Oct 10.

The opposition chief, who will lead the Dhaka-Sylhet road march, will address a public meeting on Sylhet Alia Madrasa ground the next day.

Khaleda is scheduled to start for the road march from her Gulshan residence at 9:30am on Monday.

Khaleda announced the road marches at a rally on Sep 27 as part of the party's agitation programme to protest holding of next general election without reinstating caretaker government.