That's anything but democratic. People stuck on the road for hours not only lost valuable time and energy but also man hours, as the ruling BNP supporters marched through the city roads, bringing it to a virtual standstill. It seems the party high command didn't even bother to think how the people would take the programme that created so much trouble for them. There were emergency situations where patients had to be carried to hospitals, let alone all sorts of appointments to be kept and errands to be run. Obviously, the problems that people might face didn't figure in the ruling party's plan for the day?

It is hard to overlook the fact that the prime minister is not only the head of her party but also the head of the government obliged to ensure that the flow of normal public movement was not hindered. The ruling party used its entire paraphernalia to add to the grandeur of the show; but how would the party view the situation had the opposition tried to organise anything like it?

Why couldn't they stage the election rallies at the weekend with a reduced fallout in terms of traffic congestion. The three-day programme included Friday and Saturday.

People in general have to bear the brunt of it all. Yet, they are the voters that the political parties are trying to woo for election victory. But the existing political culture has little space for the people, otherwise they wouldn't be subjected to harassment in the name of staging political programmes. Obviously, practice of democracy has to begin with attachment of greater importance to the sensibilities and convenience of people.