AL postpones rallies

Source: Photo: TV Grab

Ruling Awami League has postponed its rallies in Dhaka it had earlier planned for today to mark the first anniversary of January 5 parliamentary elections.

The rallies at 16-points throughout the capital have been halted “out of respect for law”, said Jahangir Kabir Nanak, joint general secretary of the party and a ruling party lawmaker.

With both the AL and BNP planning to hold rallies for today, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) slammed a ban on rallies for indefinite period of time since 5:00pm yesterday.

“Awami League is a responsible political party. Out of respect for law, we halted our rallies at the 16-points,” Nanak told reporters at the party’s Dhanmondi office this morning.

“But we are observing carefully that vested quarters BNP-Jamaat, led by Khaleda Zia, are trying to create anarchy throughout the country including Dhaka,” he said.

“They have torched public transportation throughout several areas and in some places, we have seen situation tantamount to the killing of people,” he alleged.

A year ago today, the 10th parliamentary elections took place through with Awami League came to power for a successive term with half the seats won uncontested.

The Awami League observes today as the day democracy was salvaged while BNP, who did not take part in the elections, say it is “democracy killing day.”

With both parties announcing rallies today beforehand, Awami League leaders called out to their activists to resist BNP on the streets. And, in line with those directions, ruling party activists were seen taking position through most of the key points in the city.