'Democratic' parties blasé about democracy day

The main political parties of the country, who claim to be democratic, did not observe any programmes on International Day of Democracy yesterday.

None of the three parties -- the ruling Awami League, main opposition Jatiya Party, and BNP -- did hold any programme or issue any statement while many of their leaders were unaware of the day.

In 2007, the United Nations adopted September 15 as International Day of Democracy to promote democracy.

In 1997, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) adopted a Universal Declaration on Democracy, affirming the principles of democracy and elements and exercise of democratic government.

In 2014, AL leader Saber Hossain Chowdhury was elected president of IPU but his party did not formally celebrate the day.

An AL presidium member said the party never observed the day.

BNP leader Asaduzzaman Ripon said they could hold any programme because the government barred them from holding any.

Sources in BNP, however, said they were not aware of the day.

When asked, Jatiya Party presidium member Sunil Shuvo Roy said they did not schedule any programmes marking International Democracy day. "We have no further programmes until Eid-ul-Azha," he added.