AL to celebrate, BNP to mourn

Both the ruling Awami League (AL) and its rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) are ready to observe the third anniversary of the January 5 general election.

The AL returned to power for the second consecutive term at the 10th parliamentary election on January 5, 2014. The BNP boycotted the poll.
Like the last two years, the AL will observe the day as a “victory day for democracy” and the BNP will mourn it as a “day that killed democracy”. Earlier, the AL had warned that people would not allow the BNP to stage a demonstration. In response, the BNP said they would observe the day peacefully.
BNP leaders said they would not go for any “tough” programmes even if they are not given permission to hold their planned rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on January 7. Party leaders and activists, however, said they would hold “black-flag” processions across the country today to mark the day.
The AL will hold two rallies in the city today to mark the day. The Dhaka North AL will hold a rally at Russel Square, while Dhaka South AL will hold their rally at Bangabandhu Avenue in the afternoon. The AL will also organise similar programmes in all the districts and upazilas across the country.
The BNP, on the other hand, has decided to hold a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on January 7, though it is yet to get police permission. The party will also hold black flag processions across the country. Its leaders and activists will wear black badges today.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the party programme at a press conference on December 28, while AL general secretary Obaidul Quader announced their programme at a joint meeting of the party at the Dhanmondi Pinki Community Centre on the following day.
AL joint general secretary Mahbub-Ul-Alam Hanif yesterday iterated that the people would not allow BNP to hit the streets on Friday. “I still believe that the people will not allow them (BNP) to carry out such ugly politics on the streets,” he said.
At a news briefing yesterday, Rizvi expressed hoped that good sense would prevail in the government and it would give them permission to hold their rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on January 7.
Last year, both the AL and the BNP had held separate rallies in front of their respective party central offices at Bangabandhu Avenue and Naya Paltan to observe the second anniversary of the January 5 poll.
However, massive violence had broken out in 2015 when BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia had called for nonstop blockade after her party was barred from staging demonstrations on January 5. During the three-month blockade, over a hundred people died and scores were injured.

The January 5, 2014 election and the months leading up to it had also seen widespread violence. The AL won the election with a majority of 300 parliamentary seats. Of these, 154 were won unopposed.
Most prominent political parties, including the BNP and its allies, had boycotted the polls as their demand for polling under a “non-partisan government” went unheeded. 
The election was held under the Sheikh Hasina-led government as the provision to hold it under a caretaker government was cancelled through the 15th amendment to the Constitution in line with a court verdict.
Both the AL and the BNP are now preparing for the next general polls, which, according to the Constitution, will be held in 2019 after completion of the five-year tenure of the present Parliament.

AL to celebrate, BNP to mourn

Both the ruling Awami League (AL) and its rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) are ready to observe the third anniversary of the January 5 general election. The AL returned to power for the second consecutive term at the 10th parliamentary election on January 5, 2014. The BNP boycotted the poll. Like the last two years, the AL will observe the day as a victory day for democracy and the BNP will mourn it as a day that killed democracy. Earlier, the AL had warned that people would not allow the BNP to stage a demonstration. In response, the BNP said they would observe the day peacefully. BNP leaders said they would not go for any tough programmes even if they are not given permission to hold their planned rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on January 7. Party leaders and activists, however, said they would hold black-flag processions across the country today to mark the day. The AL will hold two rallies in the city today to mark the day. The Dhaka North AL will hold a rally at Russel Square, while Dhaka South AL will hold their rally at Bangabandhu Avenue in the afternoon. The AL will also organise similar programmes in all the districts and upazilas across the country. The BNP, on the other hand, has decided to hold a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on January 7, though it is yet to get police permission. The party will also hold black flag processions across the country. Its leaders and activists will wear black badges today. BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the party programme at a press conference on December 28, while AL general secretary Obaidul Quader announced their programme at a joint meeting of the party at the Dhanmondi Pinki Community Centre on the following day. AL joint general secretary Mahbub-Ul-Alam Hanif yesterday iterated that the people would not allow BNP to hit the streets on Friday. I still believe that the people will not allow them (BNP) to carry out such ugly politics on the streets, he said. At a news briefing yesterday, Rizvi expressed hoped that good sense would prevail in the government and it would give them permission to hold their rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on January 7. Last year, both the AL and the BNP had held separate rallies in front of their respective party central offices at Bangabandhu Avenue and Naya Paltan to observe the second anniversary of the January 5 poll. However, massive violence had broken out in 2015 whenBNP chairperson Khaleda Zia had called for nonstop blockade after her party was barred from staging demonstrations on January 5. During the three-month blockade, over a hundred people died and scores were injured. The January 5, 2014 election and the months leading up to it had also seen widespread violence. The AL won the election with a majority of 300 parliamentary seats. Of these, 154 were won unopposed. Most prominent political parties, including the BNP and its allies, had boycotted the polls as their demand for polling under a non-partisan government went unheeded. The election was held under the Sheikh Hasina-led government as the provision to hold it under a caretaker government was cancelled through the 15th amendment to the Constitution in line with a court verdict. Both the AL and the BNP are now preparing for the next general polls, which, according to the Constitution, will be held in 2019 after completion of the five-year tenure of the present Parliament.