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Vowing to "awaken the people for the restoration of democracy", the BNP yesterday brought out a colourful procession in the capital, marking the 51st Victory Day.

Led by their central leaders, the party followers joined the event carrying the national flag, placards, banners and portraits of party top leaders.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir inaugurated the procession around 2:30pm in front of the party's Nayapaltan central office.

After parading different streets through Bijoynagar, Kakrail and Shantinagar, the procession ended at Nayapaltan around 3:50pm.

Thousands of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies started gathering in front of the central office since noon, causing traffic congestion.

At a brief rally before the procession, BNP leaders and activists demanded their party Chairperson Khaleda's treatment abroad.

Fakhrul said the current government shattered all the hopes and aspirations and the spirit of the Liberation War to establish a one-party Baksal rule "usurping" the state power.

"Today's programme is for awaking people afresh and waging a new struggle for the restoration of democracy."

"Let's make a good start of a movement through this programme, to free our leader Begum Khaleda Zia and ensure her proper treatment through this movement, we'll be able to establish a truly democratic state by restoring democracy in the country and we'll be able to restore our human rights," he said.

Fakhrul renewed their party's demand for allowing Khaleda to go abroad for advanced treatment.

The BNP leader said it is unfortunate for the nation that a government has been there in power by force using the state machinery even after 50 years of the country's independence. "They [government] have destroyed everything we achieved -- our sovereignty, our freedom, our right to vote, our right to write, our right to speak."

The nation celebrated the 51st Victory Day on Thursday by paying deep homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War and taking an oath to build the country as a developed, prosperous and non-communal "Sonar Bangla".

This year's Victory Day has special significance as it coincided with the celebrations of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of the country's independence.

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People will be woken to restore democracy - The Daily Star