SM Mizanur Rahman :The ruling Awami League will observe January 5 as ‘Victory Day for Democracy’ while the Bangladesh Nationalist Party as ‘Democracy Killing Day’.While BNP Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office in city on Saturday declared that his party will hold a grand rally at Suhrawardy Udyan, AL Publicity Secretary Hasan Mahmud in another press conference at party president’s Dhanmondi office announced they will also hold programmes the same day. The BNP has already sought permission from Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and the Suhrawardy Udyan authorities for holding the grand rally.An official of DMP said they are justifying BNP’s application whether the party will be allowed to hold the rally. “We are looking into the matter relating to holding rally by BNP on January 5 at Suhrawardy Udyan,” said the official requesting not to be named. When contacted Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said no situation has arisen so far to be concerned. “If BNP wants to hold any political programme in peaceful manner, the party will be given permission to do so. I think DMP will allow BNP to hold its political programme in the city,” he said The Home Minister said the overall situation is under control and there is no tension anywhere. Talking to The New Nation on Saturday Serajul Islam Choudhury, a littérateur and Professor Emeritus of Dhaka University, said the country’s political situation may again heat up centering what he termed the ‘second anniversary of the controversial 10th Parliamentary Polls’. “In the wake of threats and counter-threats and announcements of programmes the same day by the two big political parties to face each other on the streets will escalate tension and fear among the peaceful people,” he said.Serajul Islam Choudhury recalled the horror of the three-month mayhem in which the country’s people saw widespread violence, including petrol bomb attacks and killing over a hundred people. “We, the common people, don’t want to see repetition of such mayhem. We want peace. As the Awami League in power, it will have to take initiative to keep the country’s situation stable,” he said. Replying to a query, Serajul Islam Choudhury said the government should give permission to BNP to hold rally as the party announced its programme before the ruling party The ruling party has already instructed its lawmakers and all tiers of leaders from grassroots to central to observe the day through different programmes and make sure that they remain in their areas. On the other hand, leaders and workers of BNP’s all district units will also observe the day by holding discussions in their respective offices on the day.BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia accused the government of besieging people’s all democratic rights saying under these circumstances, multi-party democracy will have to be restored through a united struggle of all democratic forces.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina branded BNP-Jamaat as the symbol of destruction, terrorism and killing, and on several occasions said the unholy alliance always tried its heart and soul to destroy the country whenever it moved forward under the leadership of Awami League.AL Publicity Secretary Hasan Mahmud, however, did not specify what the programme will be thrown on the day saying it will be disclosed later. “Last year, Khaleda had tried to capture state power through killing and burning people. And she is still hatching a conspiracy to oust the government,” he added. Earlier in the morning, BNP Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the party has decided in principle to hold a rally in the city on January 5 (Tuesday) to observe the day as ‘Democracy Killing Day’ registering the party’s protest against 10th parliamentary elections held on that day in 2014.”We recognise January 5, 2014 as a ‘Democracy Killing Day’. As part of our movement for the restoration of democracy and marking January 5, we’ve decided to hold a peaceful rally on the day at Suhrawardy Udyan,” he told journalists He added BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will address the programme. “We expect that the government will help us to make our rally a success. The authority concerned will allow systematic continuation of democracy,” he said.Last year, BNP also tried to hold a rally with black flags in front of its Nayapaltan central office on January 5 to observe the day as ‘Democracy Killing Day’ but it could not hold the programme as the members of law enforcing agencies besieged party Chairperson Khaleda at her Gulshan office on January 3 and locked BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.Being failed to come out of her office on January 5, Khaleda had declared a countrywide transport blockade demanding a fresh election. The programme continued for 92 days amid widespread violence, including petrol bomb attacks and killing over a hundred people.
