The Jatiya Party had announced a rally in front of its office in the capital on Saturday, but eventually postponed it due to police ban. Even so, there was tight security around the party's office in Vijaynagar since morning. No leader-worker was seen in the office.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Ramana Division Deputy Commissioner Masud Alam said that the police have been deployed as part of extra precautions to avoid unpleasant situation in the area. He told this newspaper, 'Meetings have been banned in that area. Therefore, extra precautions are taken so that any kind of unpleasant situation does not happen there. This is our regular work.'
At around 5:00 PM in front of Japa office, it was seen that the building that had been set on fire was lying empty. There are no leaders and workers there. Eager pedestrians stand in front of the charred building and watch. And discussing among themselves. Some are taking pictures again.
Conditions were normal in Kakrail, Nightingale Mor area as well. At that time, no member of the law enforcement force was seen around the office. Four-five policemen were seen sitting in a police car opposite Ramna police station.
However, eyewitnesses said that additional police personnel were deployed around the central office of Jatiya Party since morning. Army teams were also seen patrolling the area. Police personnel were active in front of the party's central office and at the entrance. At that time, the policemen removed the eager crowd as soon as it gathered.
Interim government is not calling the Jatiya Party in the ongoing state reform dialogue in the face of the demands of the anti-discrimination student movement due to its alliance with the Awami League in the last election and being a partner of that government. The Jatiya Party declared the coordinators unwanted in Rangpur. When the two leaders of the student movement visited Rangpur, they also took out a baton march.
Since the formation of the interim government, Jatiya Party leaders and workers have been subjected to various attacks and cases as allies of the Awami League government. The party called a mass meeting on Saturday to protest against this allegation. But some students led by Chhatra Odhikar Parishad marched towards Jatiya Party party office on Thursday evening in protest of calling the rally. When they were attacked there, they came back and counterattacked.
At that time, the office was set on fire and vandalized. Japa chairman GM Quader announced the success of the rally at the press conference on Friday. Later, after declaring to resist them under the banner of student-labour-java and banning DMP meetings, Japa backed down and canceled the rally.
