New year, old politics:Daily Sun

 Tension runs high in the political arena as ruling Awami League and opposition BNP and its allies are on the collision course marking the return of old politics of confrontation in the new year. As the two sides are preparing for a political showdown over the anniversary of last parliamentary elections on January 5, people are worried over the possibility of a political turmoil after a year of re
latively peaceful situation. BNP leader Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Friday said “We’ll hold our rally in the capital on January 5 to mark ‘Democracy Killing Day’. It matters little whether the government gives us permission or not. We’ll do whatever necessary to stage our programmes”. On the other hand, Awami League leader Mahbubul Alam Hanif on Friday said, despite sounding threats the paper tigers of BNP will be found nowhere in the streets on January 5. AL has announced that on January 5 they will hold rallies at 16 spots of the capital. State minister for home affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said on Friday BNP will not be permitted to hold any rally if there is any apprehension of sabotage. The BNP-led 20-party alliance has vowed to observe as ‘Black Day’ the first anniversary of Awami League’s formation of government for the second term through the polls on January 5, 2014. Awami League is all set to remain in the filed with programmes for observance of ‘Victory Day for Democracy’ the same day. BNP is reportedly determined to hold rallies today and January 5 at any cost and if they are obstructed a three-day hartal may be called. Under these circumstances, the political heat in the country is increasing fast. The government is on the hard-line. Apprehending sabotage under the cover of the programme by the opposition law enforcers are also taking all out precaution. A good number of activists of BNP and Jamaat have already been taken into custody. They include BNP standing committee member Gayeswar Chandra Roy and Jubodal president Moazzem Hossain Alal. Law enforcers have raided about one dozen houses of leaders. Moreover, police raided the homes of city BNP president Mirza Abbas and Dhaka city BNP joint convener Abdul Awal Mintoo.on Saturday night. A large number. of leaders and workers of 20-party alliance have taken shelter in safe hideouts. BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has threatened that if obstacles are created to BNP public meetings, Awami League will not be allowed to hold meetings anywhere in the country without hindrance. Meanwhile, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia addressing a press conference on Wednesday reiterated her demand for mid-term elections under a neutral government and placed 7-point demand to that end. But Awami League has rejected his demands. AL leader Tofail Ahmed said that there will be no elections in the country before 2019. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Thursday, “ People do not want to see any more politics of killing, terrorism and militancy in the country and they rather want to see accelerated pace of development”. She urged the people to remain alert so that none can play ducks and drakes with their fate. The political discord and war of words and attrition between the two major parties are old, but the situation has taken a turn for the worse now over the programmes for observance of ‘Day of Victory for Democracy’ on January 5 by AL and ‘Black Day’ by BNP on the same day. According to observers, what may come next is yet to be seen. But political confrontation between the two major parties seems almost certain in the days ahead. Keeping the last year’s mayhem in mind, the AL president and Prime Minister at a joint meeting of the party recently hinted that the government would not spare anybody for anarchy. “Nobody will be spared for trying to create anarchy. Even, Khaleda Zia may be behind the bar for violence,” she told the meeting, held at her official residence Ganabhaban recently.