The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Tuesday warned the ruling Awami League that the barrel of the gun, which is now pointed at the BNP leaders and activists, would turn anytime.

‘No dictatorial government in the past has realised this before, and neither do you [AL]. So be careful, keep the gun barrel under control,’ BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said at a rally in Dhaka.

The BNP Dhaka north city unit organised the rally in the Eskaton area of the capital to protest against recent fuel and commodity price hikes and the killing of party leaders and activists in recent programmes.

Many leaders and activists joined the rally with national flags tied to thick bamboo sticks and raised slogans demanding the release of party chairperson Khaleda Zia and the resignation of the government.

Mirza Abbas said that the barrels of the guns used against opposition leaders and activists were bought with public money.

‘It is our democratic right to hold meetings and marches. Those who want to take their rights away should be resisted. People need to be assured that we are with them. BNP activists are no longer afraid,’ he said.

He also said that all the democratic structures of the country have been broken.

‘BNP has to repair those. People are looking to the BNP,’ he added.

Abbas alleged that the Election Commission was trying to buy electronic voting machines with Tk 8,000 crore for the 12th Parliamentary Elections, wasting public money.

Regarding the election, the BNP leader said that the BNP would go to the election after fulfilling its demands for an election-time non-party neutral government.

He alleged that a notification had been issued to prepare a list of those who worked to make the BNP rally a success at the union, district and municipal levels.

‘This responsibility has been given to the superintendents of police of the districts. However, I would like to warn that if a leader and activist are arrested with this list, an appropriate response will be given,’ he said.

BNP Dhaka north city unit convener Amanullah Aman presided over the programme.