BNP yesterday demanded withdrawal of the ban on holding rallies at the city's Muktangon where it decided to hold a rally on May 9.

At a press briefing at the party's Naya Paltan office in the capital, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP acting secretary general, said if the government forbid them to hold the rally at Muktangon or any other places in the city, they will organise it in front of Bangabhaban.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Tuesday imposed the ban indefinitely from today. The ban came following many political organisations choosing the venue for their programmes today in the area.

The press briefing was held after a meeting of leaders of BNP and its allies with Alamgir in the chair.

The BNP standing committee on April 13 announced a series of programmes including a rally on May 9 demanding midterm election. A countrywide demonstration was also scheduled for today in protest at the share market scam.

"We must hold our rally on the day demanding midterm election. I hope police will withdraw the ban," said Alamgir, a former state minister, at the press briefing.

He said the government did not give permission for Paltan Maidan. "So we will hold the rally at Muktangan. If they [government] obstruct us there, we will organise it in front of our party's central office at Naya Paltan."

If the rally is not allowed at Naya Paltan, it will be arranged at Manik Mia Avenue. Failing to hold the rally at Manik Mia Avenue, the party will hold it in front of Bangabhaban, added the BNP leader.

Accusing the government of hatching a conspiracy to establish one-party rule by imposing ban on rallies, he said they have announced the programme a month back and sought permission from the authorities concerned.

At the briefing, he also announced programmes for 12 days from May 29 to observe the death anniversary of late president Ziaur Rahman, founder of the party.