BNP couldn’t even wage a 10-minute protest in the last 10 years, said the General Secretary of Awami League (AL) Obaidul Quader.

His remarks came during a meeting held at the Capital’s National Museum on Saturday.

The Road Transport and Bridges Minister said, “They will surely say after getting permission to hold rally that the government has bowed down on the face of pressure from the people led by BNP. Mark my words, they will say that.”

“They failed to wage even a 10-minute protest on the streets in the last 10 years. I didn’t even see 500 people in their processions,” Quader added.

He also said that no one will be allowed to hold rallies on the roads by blocking it.

Quader said, “Prime minister has said that Suhrawardy Udyan is open for all. She even suggested setting up an open stage for them. Say whatever you want. We will install mikes for you if needed. But, we won’t allow you to shout on the roads.”

“We won’t do it, and won’t allow you to do it either,” he said.

Requesting the news media editors to write what they witness and hear, the senior AL leader said, “The 14-party alliance coordinator said that they will hold an activists’ rally, not a rally as a counter programme of BNP.”

“Why are you terming it as rally?” he questioned before reiterating that this is not a rally but an activists’ rally.