Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina has said democracy restored through the sacrifice of Noor Hossain and others could not benefit the people as autocracy has been replaced by "democratic autocracy."

"People’s right to vote and food has been threatened once again.” she said, adding "Rigging and vote dacoity were going on in the same style as under the past autocratic regime ... democracy has to be restored again.'

Hasina was addressing a rally yesterday afternoon in front of the party central office at Bangabandhu Avenue in the city in connection with the observance of Noor Hossain Day.

Noor Hossain, a youth, was killed In police firing on November 10. 1987. when he was leading an anti-autocracy procession during the Opposition's Dhaka siege programme.

Hasina blamed the BNP government for 'violating' its all pledges to the people They have betrayed the blood of Noor Hossain and others by not Implementing

the joint declarations of three alliances." she said.

The AL chief said their politics was aimed at building a self-reliant economy for which, she added, there must be a system of changing government through voting.

"And to establish this system. people have raised the demand for general elections under a neutral caretaker government." But the BNP was not accepting . the demand to rig the polls, she said.

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The Prime Minister was responsible for public sufferings caused by hartals, said Hasina. "We have relaxed the hartal programme for the convenience of the people and we are also ready to withdraw the programme instantly if the government accepts the demand." she said.

"What is the alternative to hartal im a democratic society?” sh e asked and said even the businessmen observed a 15-miii:ute hartal seeking resolution of the political crisis.

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"Why don't you ask the Prime Minister to accept the demand?" Hasina said referring to the businessmen.

Condemning police attack on her party s central office, she said the AL leaders and workers were being implicated in false cases and harassed throughout the country.

The rally was also addressed by. among others, city AL chief and Mayor of Dhaka. Mohammad Hanif. Mozaffar Hossain Paltu. Motia Chowdhury. Nurul Islam Nahid and Prof Abu Sayeed, party central leaders Abdul Mannan. Mohiuddin Ahmed. Qamruzzaman, Tofael Ahmed. Sajeda Chowdhury. Amir Hossain Amu and Zillur Rah man were present.

Later, a torch procession was brought out in support of the six-day hartal beginning today.