The main opposition Awami league (AL) will observe today as a 'Black Day'. On this day five years ago, the BNP-led coalition came to |>ower.

Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina will address a gathering in the city today, evaluating die performance of the coalition government.

Leaders of different political parties and professional bodies and civil society members will__

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attend the AL's programme to be held at a city hotel at 4:00pm.

The ruling BNP, on the other hand, will organise a discussion today to mark the five years in power. To be held at Mahanagar Natya Mancha at 1:00pm, the function will be addressed among others by LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Dhaka City Mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka.

Though Khaleda took office on this day after the four-party alliance swept the general election of October 1, the term of the government counts from the first sitting of the 8th parliament on October 28, 2001.

According to the constitution, the alliance government will continue to be in office till October 27 while the parliament will be automatically dissolved on that day.

Sources within AL said Hasina in her speech today will focus on the failures of the government and will call on the people to vote for her party in the upcoming election to revive the economic development and ensure peace and stability.

She will also speak about "unbridled corruption of Hawa Bhaban, price hike of essentials, power crisis, deterioration of law and order, extra-judicial killings, politicisation of the administration and state-

sanctioned terrorism".

Besides, the AL chief will talk about the development plans she will seek to carry out in the event of her party winning the next election.

A documentary on "repression under the four-party alliance rule" in will be aired before her speech.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and President Dr Iajuddin Ahmed in separate messages yesterday felicitated the countrymen on this occasion.

Khaleda, also BNP chairperson, reiterated her gratitude to the people for giving the BNP and its allies the mandate to run the country.

The president said he hopes the opposition and the ruling parties will work together to advance the parliamentary democracy.

The prime minister in her message urged the people to keep supporting the coalition for continuing the development works.

Claiming that the country has made remarkable progress in different sectors during her rule, Khaleda said she is hopeful that the BNP-led alliance will win the mandate again to carry forward its development campaign.