International Democracy Day: BNP leaders, activists gather at Nayapaltan
TBS Report
17 September, 2024, 01:20 pm
Last modified: 17 September, 2024, 01:52 pm
Scores of BNP leaders and activists gathered at Nayapaltan to commemorate “victims of political repression” and in observance of International Democracy Day.
They also held rallies in different cities the country today (17 September).
The rallies are being held a month after the day of the Bangla Blockade – the initial movement which eventually deposed Sheikh Hasina – which began on 17 July.
Small pockets of rallies held by the BNP and its associate bodies could also be seen in different parts of the capital, resulting in some gridlock. Most were heading towards the party’s central office in Naya Paltan.
BNP standing committee member AZM Zahid Hossain, after a joint meeting with the party leaders at its central office at Naya Paltan in Dhaka on Friday, announced that they would be holding two rallies. One would be at the Central Shaheed Minar to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the recent student-led mass uprising and another rally to mark International Democracy Day at the Naya Paltan, where party acting chairperson Tarique Rahman is expected to attend virtually as the chief guest.
Earlier on 15 September, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, claimed that 422 of 875 martyrs of the July-August protests were affiliated with the BNP.
“There is no room to undermine BNP’s contribution here. The July-August movement didn’t suddenly emerge, rather it was part of BNP’s long-standing struggle,” he said.
