Why?

Both the AL and BNP have expressed their intention to hold a rally in Suhrawardy Udyan on January 5 to commemorate 'Democracy' in their own way. Reportedly, the AL's plan to celebrate the day and its public announcement in that regard were made following the BNP's announcement and request for permission of the DMP was sought to use the said venue on January 5. 

We would, therefore, not be remiss in suggesting that the AL's plan for January 5, that includes holding rallies in as many as eighteen spots in the capital, has been announced with the ulterior motive of disrupting BNP's programme. Already the AL intention to precipitate a situation has been partly successful in that the DMP has announced that no permission for rally would be given if there is a chance of clash between AL and BNP. 

We wonder why the ruling party is unwilling to provide even the minimum of political space to its main opponent. This was one of the reasons for the BNP's utterly injudicious and harmful reaction in 2015 when it called for countrywide blockade that degenerated into the worst kind of violence that the country had ever witnessed. 

While we are relieved to hear that BNP intends to avoid confrontation with the AL in this regard, we wonder why the AL cannot display more grace and tolerance, being the ruling party, and allow the BNP the use of the Suhrawardy Udyan, more so when the BNP had sought its use first. Are there no other spots for the AL to organise its rally on January 5?  

AL's negative approach bodes very badly for democracy, whatever little there is left of it.