Staff Correspondent

The BNP will hold a rally today at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital to commemorate the sacrifice of the people who were killed and injured, and those who faced false cases during the fascist regime led by autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina.

Senior BNP leaders, including its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, will attend the programme at the Central Shaheed Minar at 3:30pm today, according to an announcement made by the party.

At a press conference on Thursday, Mirza Fakhrul said the rally will be held with the participation of the families of martyrs and the people who were injured and tortured during the democratic movement in the last one and a half decades.

“There will be various cultural programmes, plays, and poetry recitations at the rally,” he said.

Mirza Fakhrul also said another rally will be held in front of the BNP central office in the Nayapaltan area of the capital on Sunday (15 September) afternoon.

That rally will be held to institutionalise democracy. “We are now in a transitional period. We want to emphasise on holding this rally seriously to unite all the democratic forces,” he said.

In a preparation meeting at the BNP central office on Friday, BNP standing committee member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said the family members of the people martyred in the struggle for the restoration of democracy will speak at the rally at the Central Shaheed Minar today.

He said the rally in front of the BNP central office in Nayapaltan on Sunday (15 September) will be held on the occasion of the International Day of Democracy.

The BNP leader said this year's International Day of Democracy carries special importance. That is why the BNP has announced a two-day programme on 14-15 September.

Mentioning that Sunday’s rally will be one of its largest gatherings, Dr Zahid said BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman will address the rally as the chief guest.

“At the rally, Tarique Rahman must give a special message regarding the reformation of Bangladesh in the coming days,” he added.