Staff Reporter :The activists of ruling Awami League and its associate organizations, including Swechchhasebok League, Juba League and Chhatra League, took positions on the streets in the city from Monday morning to observe January 5 as ‘victory day of democracy’.They took control of 16 strategic entry points from Abdullahpur to Tongi bridge, Gabtoli Mazar Road to Aminbazar bridge, Babu Bazar bridge, Demra bridge, Kanchpur bridge and Postagola bridge shortly after dawn.Senior leaders of the ruling party were also seen along with party activists in different city areas, including Bangabandhu Avenue AL central office, High Court, Kawran Bazar, Banglamotor, Mohammadpur bus stand and Sanir Akhra.Some of the AL men took control of the Chittagong Road at Jatrabari and in the Signboard area– entry points of the capital. As a result, the capital city Dhaka virtually went under the control of ruling party men. They were seen holding banners and sticks in various places. Simultaneously, the AL and its front organizations brought out processions and staged sit-in demonstration on city streets.Dhaka city AL general secretary and Relief Minister Mofazzel Hossain Maya, Metropolitan AL Joint General Secretary and Food Minister Advocate Kamrul Islam, among others, spoke in the rally on the Bangabandhu Avenue around 10:45am.In Mirpur area, Juba league activists showed their strength with a procession with more than 200 motorcycles and 12-15 trucks and pick-up vans that paraded to Kawran Bazar from Mirpur-10 circle. Chhatra League activists took position in Kawran Bazar, AL in Dhanmondi, Jubo League and Swechchhasebak League from Kakrail intersection to Matshya Bhaban. Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police [DMP] imposed ban on all kinds of meeting, processions and rallies in capital until further notice starting from 5pm Sunday to avert untoward situation as BNP and AL declared counter programs on Monday.Huge contingents of police and Rapid Action Battalion [RAB] personnel were deployed in the city. Besides, the members of intelligence agencies were put on alert to thwart any untoward incident. RAB and BGB personnel were seen moving at different strategic points in the capital.The entire Nayapaltan area where the BNP headquarters is situated was cordoned off as Khaleda Zia had announced to lead the protest at the venue.A large contingent of law-enforcers took position around the BNP central office. They were seen checking people and vehicles, including rickshaws, CNG scooters, and taxicabs. Although BNP was denied permission to hold any rally in front of the party office, the 20-party alliance expressed their determination to hold the rally there.On the other hand, BNP-led 20-party alliance leaders and activists were not seen on the roads though earlier they declared programs marking on the day as ‘Democracy Killing Day’.Earlier on Sunday, several buses were torched as protesters clashed sporadically with police across the country. The clashes began after police announced a ban on all protests, rallies and processions in capital from Sunday afternoon “until further notice.”
