Ctg Mayor vows to hold victory fair at outer stadium venue

Mohiuddin, also chairman of the Mela Parishad and general secretary of Chittagong city Awami League, declared this at a rally protesting the 'occupation' of the Outer Stadium venue where the Parishad has been organising the Bijoy Mela (victory fair) since 1989.

But since 2002, Chittagong city, north district and south district commands of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad (BMS) under the banner of Muktijuddher Bijoy Utsab Udjapan Parisahd have been organising "Muktijuddher Bijoy Utsab" at the same venue.

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Announcing the Bijoy Mela programmes, the mayor said the Parishad would hold a rally on the central Shaheed Minar premises at 2.00pm on December 1 to mark the opening of the fair. The rally will be followed by a procession that will end at the foot of Bijoy Shikha (victory flame) on the Outer Stadium premises.

And with the lighting of the Bijoy Shikha, the 31-day victory fair will be formally inaugurated, Mohiuddin said. The title of this year's fair is 'Rajakarer Biruddhe Muktijuddher Bijoy Mela'.

He said after the occupation of the fair venue (outer stadium) by the pro-BNP organisations, the Bijoy Mela now would not be limited to Outer Stadium or Laldighi Moidan area, but it would spread all over Chittagong.

The protest rally was held in front of the Chittagong Press Club after the police prevented the Parishad from holding the rally at the scheduled venue at the foot of Bijoy Shikha.

Former minister and Chittagong City Awami League President MA Mannan, former CU pro-Vice chancellor Dr Abu Yusuf Alam and Mela Parishad Secretary General Abul Hashem also addressed the rally.