January 5 polls anniversary

Cruel joke at voting rights, says BNP

Denied permission by the government for any outdoor rally or procession, BNP yesterday brought out black-flag processions across the country, minus the capital, to mark the January 5 polls anniversary, which the party terms as “Democracy Killing Day”. Marking the issue, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, in a tweet message late on Thursday, said that bullet was the source of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s power. “Not ballot but bullet is the source of Hasina’s power. The Jan 5 disgraceful voter less poll is a cruel joke at our historic struggles for voting rights and back-stabbing our democratic progress,” said the tweet message. The former premier further said people shall choose their representatives, not conspirators. No compromise with democracy, she added. In the capital, the BNP only held a press conference in its Naya Paltan central office.

At the briefing, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced demonstrations at the ‘thana’ level in the city for today.

At the press briefing, Rizvi alleged that preventing the BNP to hold its rally in Dhaka proved that the ruling Awami League was a party that was bent on killing democracy.

“They (AL) held two rallies in Dhaka but the BNP was denied…The government has

displayed its rogue behaviour against democracy and the opposition’s rights of opposition by denying it permission,” he said.

Rizvi alleged that the law enforcers acted as a terrorist party in preventing the BNP from carrying out its programme.

He also alleged that police had locked various BNP offices including those in Gazipur, Mymensingh and Chittagong.

“It has been proved again with the obstruction to the BNP’s rally that the Awami League is a party that kills democracy,” UNB quoted Rizvi as saying.

At a separate programme, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir termed January 5 as a stigmatised day for the ruling Awami League as, what he said, the party killed democracy on the day.

He said the year 2018 would be for the BNP, and also the year to restore the democracy. “The BNP will prove it through movement,” he said.

Pro-BNP lawyers organized the meeting at the Supreme Court auditorium to mark ‘democracy killing day’ with Supreme Court Bar Association President Joynal Abedin in the chair.

Praising the Awami League by saying that the party has a long tradition and it had played important roles in democratic movements in the past, Mirza Fakhrul regretted that the party is now using police and RAB as weapons as it is afraid of losing power.

Their defeat is certain if there is a free and fair election in the country, he said.

Accusing the government of harassing BNP leaders and activists, the BNP leader said about 744 BNP leaders and activists have been killed and about 7.38 lakh party leaders and activists have been implicated in “false cases.”

BNP leaders Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Syed Moazzem Hossian Alal, among others, addressed the meeting.

Meanwhile, barring some stray incidents, the BNP’s nationwide black-flag processions were held peacefully.

The black-flag processions and rallies in some districts were disrupted by police obstruction. Police did a baton-charge on BNP activists in some districts to disperse them while they gathered to bring out processions.

At least 10 BNP activists were injured in the police baton charge. Police also detained at least three activists during the demonstration.

A large number of law enforcers, including police personnel, were deployed in front of the party office and its adjacent areas from the morning. Water cannon and prison vans were also stationed nearby.

 In Mymensingh, police did a baton-charge on a black-flag procession at the Gauripur upazila, leaving at least 10 people injured.

 Police also did a baton-charge on BNP activists in Khulna while they were out in a procession. Police detained at least three activists from the spot.

 Our Barisal office reports that the black-flag processions in Barisal city and the district unit BNP were postponed, as police denied permission and due to threats issued by the BCL and police.

 Police kept the BNP office cordoned off from Thursday night till the time of filing the report. City AL, BCL, JCD and Shramik League activists took control of the Sadar Road area of the city this morning (Friday) till afternoon, holding one programme after another in front of the BNP office.

In Rajshahi, the BNP took out a black-flag procession from in front of the party office but the police stopped it on the way.

Our Tangail Correspondent reports that BNP staged a protest demonstration amid police barricades in Tangail. BNP activists gathered at their party office on Tangail’s Victoria Road. They tried to bring out a protest procession but police put up barricades to foil its progress. BNP, finally, held a roadside rally.

 On Monday, the BNP announced its plan to hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital and bring out black-flag processions across the country on Jan 5 to observe the day as ‘Democracy Killing Day’ to register its protest against 10th parliamentary elections held on that day in 2014.

The last parliamentary election was held on January 5, 2014, amid controversy, as the BNP, main opposition then, and most other political parties boycotted the polls, terming it “farcical and one-sided”. At least 153 lawmakers were elected uncontested in the 10th parliament.

In 2015, on the first anniversary of the day, violence erupted across the country with rallies and counter rallies being held by parties. The situation remained turbulent for weeks.

January 5 polls anniversary

Cruel joke at voting rights, says BNP

Denied permission by the government for any outdoor rally or procession, BNP yesterday brought out black-flag processions across the country, minus the capital, to mark the January 5 polls anniversary, which the party terms as Democracy Killing Day. Marking the issue, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, in a tweet message late on Thursday, said that bullet was the source of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas power. Not ballot but bullet is the source of Hasinas power. The Jan 5 disgraceful voter less poll is a cruel joke at our historic struggles for voting rights and back-stabbing our democratic progress, said the tweet message. The former premier further said people shall choose their representatives, not conspirators. No compromise with democracy, she added. In the capital, the BNP only held a press conference in its Naya Paltan central office. At the briefing, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced demonstrations at the thana level in the city for today. At the press briefing, Rizvi alleged that preventing the BNP to hold its rally in Dhaka proved that the ruling Awami League was a party that was bent on killing democracy. They (AL) held two rallies in Dhaka but the BNP was deniedThe government has displayed its rogue behaviour against democracy and the oppositions rights of opposition by denying it permission, he said. Rizvi alleged that the law enforcers acted as a terrorist party in preventing the BNP from carrying out its programme. He also alleged that police had locked various BNP offices including those in Gazipur, Mymensingh and Chittagong. It has been proved again with the obstruction to the BNPs rally that the Awami League is a party that kills democracy, UNB quoted Rizvi as saying. At a separate programme, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir termed January 5 as a stigmatised day for the ruling Awami League as, what he said, the party killed democracy on the day. He said the year 2018 would be for the BNP, and also the year to restore the democracy. The BNP will prove it through movement, he said. Pro-BNP lawyers organized the meeting at the Supreme Court auditorium to mark democracy killing day with Supreme Court Bar Association President Joynal Abedin in the chair. Praising the Awami League by saying that the party has a long tradition and it had played important roles in democratic movements in the past, Mirza Fakhrul regretted that the party is now using police and RAB as weapons as it is afraid of losing power. Their defeat is certain if there is a free and fair election in the country, he said. Accusing the government of harassing BNP leaders and activists, the BNP leader said about 744 BNP leaders and activists have been killed and about 7.38 lakh party leaders and activists have been implicated in false cases. BNP leaders Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Syed Moazzem Hossian Alal, among others, addressed the meeting. Meanwhile, barring some stray incidents, the BNPs nationwide black-flag processions were held peacefully. The black-flag processions and rallies in some districts were disrupted by police obstruction. Police did a baton-charge on BNP activists in some districts to disperse them while they gathered to bring out processions. At least 10 BNP activists were injured in the police baton charge. Police also detained at least three activists during the demonstration. A large number of law enforcers, including police personnel, were deployed in front of the party office and its adjacent areas from the morning. Water cannon and prison vans were also stationed nearby. In Mymensingh, police did a baton-charge on a black-flag procession at the Gauripur upazila, leaving at least 10 people injured. Police also did a baton-charge on BNP activists in Khulna while they were out in a procession. Police detained at least three activists from the spot. Our Barisal office reports that the black-flag processions in Barisal city and the district unit BNP were postponed, as police denied permission and due to threats issued by the BCL and police. Police kept the BNP office cordoned off from Thursday night till the time of filing the report. City AL, BCL, JCD and Shramik League activists took control of the Sadar Road area of the city this morning (Friday) till afternoon, holding one programme after another in front of the BNP office. In Rajshahi, the BNP took out a black-flag procession from in front of the party office but the police stopped it on the way. Our Tangail Correspondent reports that BNP staged a protest demonstration amid police barricades in Tangail. BNP activists gathered at their party office on Tangails Victoria Road. They tried to bring out a protest procession but police put up barricades to foil its progress. BNP, finally, held a roadside rally. On Monday, the BNP announced its plan to hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital and bring out black-flag processions across the country on Jan 5 to observe the day as Democracy Killing Day to register its protest against 10th parliamentary elections held on that day in 2014. The last parliamentary election was held on January 5, 2014, amid controversy, as the BNP, main opposition then, and most other political parties boycotted the polls, terming it farcical and one-sided. At least 153 lawmakers were elected uncontested in the 10th parliament. In 2015, on the first anniversary of the day, violence erupted across the country with rallies and counter rallies being held by parties. The situation remained turbulent for weeks.