TDS Desk:

BNP on Wednesday announced a two-day program to pay homage in memory of those who were killed in the movements against authoritarian rule over the past 17 years and to mark International Democracy Day.

BNP standing committee member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain made the announcement at a press conference at the party’s Naya Paltan central office.

As part of the programs, he said a memorial rally will be held at the Central Shaheed Minar on September 14 to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the recent student-led mass uprising and the struggle against authoritarianism over the past 17 years.

Zahid said the meeting will take place from 3pm-5pm and will also recall the contributions of those who were injured and affected in the movement in various ways.

Besides, he said BNP will organise a rally to mark International Democracy Day the following day on Sunday.

The venue of the rally has not yet been decided, but the party wants to arrange it either at Naya Paltan or at Suhrawardy Udyan.

Apart from Dhaka, Zahid said similar “Democracy Rallies” will be organised in all the divisional cities on September 15 in observance of International Democracy Day.

The press conference was held after a joint meeting of the party and its associate bodies that was attended by the presidents and general secretaries of all units.