Tension surfaces in AL, BNP

Parties eye same venue for Jan 5 rally

Fresh tension surfaces between the ruling Awami League and its main rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as both yesterday unveiled plans to hold rallies at Suhrawardy Uddyan in the city on January 5,  the second anniversary of 2014 controversial general election.
On January 5, 2014, the AL had assumed office for the second time with 153 representatives of the 10th Parliament being elected unopposed after the BNP boycotted the elections.
While the ruling party celebrates January 5 as ‘Victory Day for Democracy’, the BNP observes it as ‘Democracy Killing Day’.
AL and BNP insiders said they have chalked out different programmes, including rallies, discussions, and human chains, across the country to mark the occasion.
Though the AL is yet to make public its programme for January 5, the rival BNP has already announced to host a rally at Suhrawardy Uddyan to mark the polls anniversary as a black day. The opposition party would also host related programmes across the country.

In the meantime, the BNP has sought permission from Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to hold their rally at Suhrawardy Uddyan on January 5. “We have already written to the police authorities. We hope that the DMP will allow us to hold a peaceful rally at Suhrawardy Uddyan on January 5,” BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters at the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters.
On the other hand, AL joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif said, “We will also hold a rally at Suhrawardy Uddyan to celebrate January 5 as ‘Victory Day of Democracy’. I hope the DMP will allow us to hold our rally on Tuesday.”
Hanif, however, did not elaborate on the ruling party’s plans that day. “We will hold rallies, discussions, and other related programmes on January 5. But we are yet to announce it formally. I hope the party will announce it soon,” he added.
Meanwhile, according to a press release issued by the AL last night, party activists will be present at 18 points, including the Suhrawardy Uddyan, in the capital on Jan 5.
AL’s city and district unit leaders and workers have been asked to make elaborate preparations for the party programme’s success, he said.
Hanif said the people would give a befitting reply to BNP leaders and workers if they try to create anarchy in the country and resort to violence under the pretext of organising a political programme as they did in the past.
Last year, the BNP had unleashed the country’s longest-ever political movement to unseat the AL-led government. Nearly 150 people were killed and over 1,000 injured during the month-long violence in the country. The movement was, however, eventually suppressed by the government.
The violence was widely condemned at home and abroad. Foreign diplomats had advised all parties in Bangladesh to shun the path of violence.
The BNP-Jamaat-sponsored violent programme ended when the Election Commission announced its election schedule on March 18 last year for the three City Corporations, including Dhaka North, Dhaka South and Chittagong.

Tension surfaces in AL, BNP

Parties eye same venue for Jan 5 rally

Fresh tension surfaces between the ruling Awami League and its main rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as both yesterday unveiled plans to hold rallies at Suhrawardy Uddyan in the city on January 5, the second anniversary of 2014 controversial general election. On January 5, 2014, the AL had assumed office for the second time with 153 representatives of the 10th Parliament being elected unopposed after the BNP boycotted the elections. While the ruling party celebrates January 5 as Victory Day for Democracy, the BNP observes it as Democracy Killing Day. AL and BNP insiders said they have chalked out different programmes, including rallies, discussions, and human chains, across the country to mark the occasion. Though the AL is yet to make public its programme for January 5, the rival BNP has already announced to host a rally at Suhrawardy Uddyan to mark the polls anniversary as a black day. The opposition party would also host related programmes across the country. In the meantime, the BNP has sought permission from Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to hold their rally at Suhrawardy Uddyan on January 5. We have already written to the police authorities. We hope that the DMP will allow us to hold a peaceful rally at Suhrawardy Uddyan on January 5, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters at the partys Nayapaltan headquarters. On the other hand, AL joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif said, We will also hold a rally at Suhrawardy Uddyan to celebrate January 5 as Victory Day of Democracy. I hope the DMP will allow us to hold our rally on Tuesday. Hanif, however, did not elaborate on the ruling partys plans that day. We will hold rallies, discussions, and other related programmes on January 5. But we are yet to announce it formally. I hope the party will announce it soon, he added. Meanwhile, according to a press release issued by the AL last night, party activists will be present at 18 points, including the Suhrawardy Uddyan, in the capital on Jan 5. ALs city and district unit leaders and workers have been asked to make elaborate preparations for the party programmes success, he said. Hanif said the people would give a befitting reply to BNP leaders and workers if they try to create anarchy in the country and resort to violence under the pretext of organising a political programme as they did in the past. Last year, the BNP had unleashed the countrys longest-ever political movement to unseat the AL-led government. Nearly 150 people were killed and over 1,000 injured during the month-long violence in the country. The movement was, however, eventually suppressed by the government. The violence was widely condemned at home and abroad. Foreign diplomats had advised all parties in Bangladesh to shun the path of violence. The BNP-Jamaat-sponsored violent programme ended when the Election Commission announced its election schedule on March 18 last year for the three City Corporations, including Dhaka North, Dhaka South and Chittagong.