The ruling Awami League has announced that they will observe January 5 as “Democracy Protection Day” by carrying out rallies and processions at 18 spots of the capital including the Suhrawardy Udyan.
However, if they fail to get permission for the Suhrawardy Udyan venue, the party will carry out programmes in front of the Bangabandhu Avenue Headquarters, Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif told reporters yesterday.
He made the announcement after a joint meeting with the lawmakers, and leaders of its associate bodies and city units at the Dhanmondi office.
The BNP too announced to hold a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan tomorrow to condemn the Awami League for the January 5, 2014 elections. Yesterday, it proposed to the DMP authorities an alternative venue. The authorities are yet to respond to the pleas of the two arch rivals.
Last year, the Awami League supporters gathered at 16 points of the capital to observe the day and resist the counter programmes of the BNP. The BNP, which leads the 20-party alliance, could not hold their scheduled rally at Suhrawardy Udyan.
“January 5 is a memorable day for Bangladeshi as democracy was preserved by holding the 10th parliamentary polls in 2014. So the nation also the Awami League will observe it as another day of victory,” Hanif said.
The party under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had foiled the conspiracy of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami to kill democracy after boycotting the polls, he added.
“We will hold rallies and stage demonstrations at 18 spots including the historic Suhrawardy Udyan led by the party’s senior leaders.”
The spots are Purabi Cinema Hall at Mirpur 12, Shyampur-Jurain rail gate, Demra-Jatrabari ground, Badda-Rampura petrol pump, Shahbagh, National Press Club-Matsya Bhaban, Dhanmondi 32, Mirpur 1 intersection, Lalbagh, Gulshan, Sutrapur, Tejgaon, Sabujbagh-Khilgaon, Uttara, Kamrangirchar, Mohammadpur Town Hall, Kafrul, Bangabandhu Avenue and Suhrawardy Udyan.
Replying to another query about resisting the BNP men on January 5, Hanif said: “Where are the BNP men? Do you see them on the city streets?”
He also warned that the BNP would have to pay the price if it staged violent demonstrations like last year.
