January 5: AL to observe V-day for democracy

The ruling Awami League is observing “victory day for democracy” today marking the party's win in the national polls three years ago. However, the BNP is observing the day as “a black day when democracy was killed”.

The 10th parliamentary election was held on January 5, 2014. Major political parties, including the BNP, had boycotted the election.

The AL will hold two rallies and bring out victory processions in the capital. Besides, similar programmes will be organised in all other districts and upazilas.

The party's Dhaka North unit will organise a rally at Russel Square at 2:30pm and bring out a procession from there. The Dhaka South unit of AL will hold similar programmes in front of the party's central office on Bangabandhu Avenue.

In a statement, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader has called upon all units of the party and its associated organisations to observe the day. He also urged people of all strata to celebrate the day in a festive manner.

The BNP has sought permission from the authorities concerned for holding a protest rally in the city's Suhrawardy Udyan on January 7. But the ruling party has already declared that it would not allow the BNP to hold the rally on that day.

The BNP will bring out processions in all the district headquarters except Dhaka, carrying black flags and wearing black badges to protest the 2014 national election.

On the first anniversary of the polls, the BNP and its allies had enforced almost a ceaseless blockade and hartals for three months. Street violence left at least 95 people killed and about 1,000 injured, mostly in targeted arson attacks on public transport.

On the second anniversary, the party had held a rally in the capital, but did not enforce any strike. The AL and the BNP held rallies in the capital on two different dates.