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Govt, opposition ready to face off

Fear, tension over October 25

Star Report
Taking the cue from party high-ups, grassroots leaders of Awami League and BNP have intensified their preparations for a face off on the streets, on or after October 25, centring the next general election.
Grassroots units of BNP-Jamaat-led opposition alliance in many areas have formed committees to resist the next parliamentary election under Sheikh Hasina-led government.
The process of forming such committees in some districts was under way with the intention to take to the streets on October 25, reported our district correspondents.
The ruling Awami League leaders are preparing for elections under the present government and will resist the opposition's bid to stop such an election. They have moved to form committees in many districts to counter the opposition plans.
Many leaders used the Eid to their advantage to rev up political activities. Senior leaders went to their constituencies and campaigned in the name of exchanging Eid greetings. They held series of meetings to boost morale of grassroot workers and to establish political supremacy for the coming days.
Under such a situation, many political analysts fear political violence may flare up in many district and upazila headquarters alongside the capital in the coming days, particularly on and after October 25, the day both ruling and opposition camps announced to hold rallies in the capital.
Local leaders of the rival camps may take to the streets outside the capital on October 25, reports some of our district correspondents.
The government, led by the ruling Awami League, has decided to deploy law enforcers and Awami League activists on the streets to foil the BNP-led opposition's agitation, sources in the Awami League and the government claimed.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a meeting of Awami League Central Working Committee last Sunday asked her party leaders to prepare to face the opposition's agitation, meeting sources said.
In efforts to strengthen party's image countrywide, the premier would hold a views-exchange meeting with pro-Awa mi League upazila parishad chairmen, vice-chairmen, mayors of city corporations and municipalities at Gono Bhaban today.
She has already had a series of meetings with her party grassroots.
Her archrival BNP chief Khaleda Zia sits tonight with her party's policymakers to discuss the next course of action. Khaleda would hold a meeting with senior leaders of her BNP-led 18-party alliance to discuss how to intensify the movement to force the government to go for a non-partisan electiontimegovernment.
The BNP has sought permission for its rally in the capital on October 25 but it is yet to receive permission from the authorities concerned.
Dhaka city unit of
Awami League has announced to hold a rally in the capital on the same day.
GRASSROOTS
Pabna district unit of BNP in two separate gatherings on Thursday decided to form a committee for a movement against the general election, if held under the Awami League-led government. They were expecting that the committee would be formed in three to four days.
Awami League leaders in the districts exchanged greetings with people and asked for votes.
In Rangamati, a 15-member district convening committee led by Dipen Dewan, president of district BNP, has been formed to resist the election, if held under Awami League-led government. Besides, 15-member coordination committees were formed in all 10 upazilas of the district for the purpose, said party sources.
Leaders and activists of Rangamati Awami League have already formed elec-
tion conducting committees in 10 upazilas to resist any bid to foil the elections, said Musa Matobber, general secretary of district Awami League.
District central polls conducting committee would be formed very soon, he added.
Gaibandha district unit of BNP has made all out preparations for forming committees at wards of union parishads to resist polls under the Awami League-led government, local leaders said.
District Awami League General Secretary Abu Bakker Siddique said, "We have prepared to resist any attempt at foiling general elections by any party intent on creating a chaotic situation."
Our correspondents reported that similar situations were prevailing in political arena of Sylhet, Natore, Jhenidah, Brahman b aria, Thakurgaon and Munshiganj.