BNP will stage demonstrations in all wards of Dhaka city on Saturday protesting denial of permission to it for holding rally at Suhrawardy Udyan marking what it calls “Democracy Killing Day” Friday.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi came up with the announcement of the programme at a press conference at BNP's Nayapaltan central office on Friday.
"It has been proved once again with the hindrance to BNP's rally that Awami League is a party that kills democracy," he said.
Rizvi said the government did not allow BNP to hold the rally as part of its scorched-earth policy to hush up the 'controversial and stigmatised' national election held on January 5, 2014.
On Monday, BNP announced to hold a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the city and bring out black flag processions across the country on January 5 to observe the day as 'Democracy Killing Day' to register its protest against 10th parliamentary polls held on that day in 2014.
Later, the party sought permission from Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and South City Corporation authorities on Wednesday for holding the programme at Nayapaltan as an Islamic party was allowed to hold a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan the same day, reports UNB.
However, the DMP authorities urged the party to arrange an indoor programme on Friday instead of going for outdoor one.
BNP later shelved its plan to hold a rally or any other programme in the city in observance of the 'Democracy Killing Day' to avoid confrontations.
But the party's all other metropolitan, district and upazila units are observing the day by bringing out black flag processions.
Awami League is also marking the day as 'Victory Day for Democracy' holding two separate rallies at Banani field and Bangabandhu Avenue in the city and various programmes across the country.
