Different political parties and socio-cultural organisations have taken various programmes to observe "Democracy Day" today, marking the fall of autocratic ruler HM Ershad in 1990.

On December 6, 1990, military dictator Ershad stepped down in the face of a mass upsurge and handed power over to a caretaker government ending his nine years of autocratic rule which began through grabbing power in a coup on March 24, 1982.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia issued separate messages.

In her message, the prime minister said December 6 is a remarkable day in the history for reclaiming democracy.

In the two decades since 1990, the Awami League played a responsible role in protecting democracy and people's voting rights, and the path for grabbing power illegally has been stopped through the 15th amendment to the constitution, she said.

However, opposition leader in the House and co-chairman of Jatiya Party, Raushan Ershad, did not issue any statement.

In her message, Khaleda Zia said democracy is not secure now. Through holding the January 5, 2014 polls, the incumbent government trapped the people again in "the rule of one party" and endangered people's rights, she alleged.

“I call upon the people of the country to get united to resist the evil force and to give democracy a permanent structure,” she said.