In a welcome development, the BNP and Dhaka Metropolitan Police last night seemed to have considerably bridged their differences over the venue for the opposition party’s December 10 rally.

An AL rebel dropped out of the race for the Rangpur City Corporation election yesterday -- the last day for withdrawing candidacy.

Political verbatims

UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Association and Peaceful Assembly Clement Voule said Bangladesh must guarantee the right to peaceful assembly and refrain from using excessive force against protesters.

BNP has proposed the Kamalapur stadium for its December 10 rally in Dhaka, while DMP gave the alternative of Mirpur Bangla College field, said BNP's Vice-Chairman Barkatullah Bulu.

Police dispersed around a hundred or so people who gathered at Nayapaltan this evening by charging batons on them.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today said police did not attack the BNP office but only carried out a search there yesterday.

The meeting is happening in the wake of uncertainty over BNP's planned December 10 rally in Dhaka, following BNP men's clash with police in front of the party's Nayapaltan headquarters yesterday.

The pro-BNP teachers’ organisation, Sada Dal, of Dhaka University urged the government to give space to the opposition to hold its democratic rally..The teachers organised a token sit-in programme at the base of Aparajeyo Bangla this morning, condemning the killing of a man and protesting

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the people not to let arson attackers and anti-liberation forces to reclaim power.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said they will hold their divisional rally in front of the party’s central office at Nayapaltan on December 10.

More than 2,300 BNP leaders and activists have been sued over yesterday's clash between the party men and police in the capital’s Nayapaltan.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police is installing CCTV cameras near the BNP's Nayapaltan office.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said the BNP will not be allowed to hold any rally blocking the roads.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was prevented from going to the party's Nayapaltan office this morning.

The BNP headquarters wore a deserted look this morning as there was no party leader or activist in the Nayapaltan office following a clash between the party men and police yesterday.

Many hoteliers and owners of shared living facilities in the capital are facing losses due to a sharp decline in guests since the ongoing police drives started on December 1.

The BNP will stage demonstrations across the country today protesting "police's attack" on party leaders and activists.

One man was killed and over 50 others, including four journalists, were injured as BNP activists and police clashed in the capital’s Nayapaltan yesterday afternoon.

In a major crackdown police yesterday detained over 300 BNP leaders and activists, including six central leaders, following a clash in front of the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters.