Bangladesh Awami League (AL) and its front organizations held hundreds rallies in the city and district to mark “Victory Day for Democracy” yesterday. M A Latif, MP and Chittagong city AL General Secretary A Z M Nasir Uddn led the main rally (Truck rally) at city’s port area.
Hundreds of activists from different parts of the city boarded on trucks decorated with banners and festoons participated in the rally.
Besides, AL and its front organizations including Bangladesh Chhatra League and Jubo League dominated almost all the city streets by holding separate rallies and bringing out processions.
Addressing a rally at Laldighi Maidan, Chittagong city unit AL President and former mayor A B M Mohiuddin Chowdhury called upon all to become more alert in protecting democracy.
Meanwhile, police foiled a rally of BNP and its allies at city’s Nur Ahmed Road this evening.
The rally was organized by city unit of BNP in front of Nasiman Bhaban BNP office in the afternoon marking what the party says the “Democracy Killing Day”.
The unruly activists attacked law enforcing agencies without any provocation around 3.30pm.
The BNP activists torched a number of shops, vandalised vehicles, exploded series of hand bombs and locked in a chase and counter-chase with the law enforcers, turning the entire area into a battlefield.
The vehicular movement on the road came to a halt in Kazir Dewri, Lalkhan Bazar, GEC Crossing, Mehedibug and Love Lane areas for nearly one hour.
Later, police lobbed teargas shells and fired rubber bullets to disperse the BNP men.
Police picked up nearly 50 protesters from different places in the city and recovered two hand bombs from Nasiman Bhaban BNP office premises.
Excepting this, the law and order situation in the city and district was almost normal.
Additional members of police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed in the city and some other parts of the district to maintain law and order.
