BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Tuesday urged the people of all walks of life to get united to resist the ‘undemocratic evil force’ in the country and give democracy a permanent shape.

In a message, she said, ‘Our democracy has stumbled repeatedly on its march forward...the democracy that was established at the blood of hundreds of martyrs is not out of danger yet.’

Khaleda, also a former prime minister, issued the message on the occasion of Fall of Autocracy Day, commemorating military ruler HM Ershad’s bowing out in the face of a mass upheaval on December 6, 1990, reports the UNB.

She alleged that the true colour of the cruel and despotic one-party rule has got exposed gradually with the attitude of the current regime. ‘People’s rights and independence have been put at stake once again by enchaining the nation with the one-party cruel rule through holding the January-5 unilateral election.’

The BNP chief claimed that the AL having the spirit of one-party Baksal rule together with the autocrat who had annihilated democracy in the 80s has destroyed all the democratic institutions. ‘This undemocratic evil force is gradually snatching people’s basic and constitutional rights.’

On December 6, 1990, the autocratic Ershad regime was forced to step down handing over power to a caretaker administration after nine years of rule. Since then, different socio-political organisations have been observing the day as the Fall of Autocracy Day or Democracy Day.