Party Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan in a statement yesterday demanded immediate release of the political leaders including BNP Standing Committee Member Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain and party Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman against whom there are no specific allegations.

Bhuiyan yesterday met Khaleda Zia at her cantonment residence and had discussions with her, especially on Tarique's arrest, sources said.

The BNP chairperson yesterday remained the most conspicuous absentee at Hawa Bhaban while her programme there with Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal on the International Women's Day was postponed.

BNP and its front organisations' failure to bring any strong protest against Tarique's arrest came as a shocking surprise to Khaleda, sources said.

Many BNP leaders, who hold the chairperson responsible for failure to check widespread corruption and power abuse by her son and his close associates, are now reluctant to meet her.

"Tarique Rahman was our future leader but he destroyed himself in last five years... Some of his associates misguided him and earned huge illegal money," said a former BNP lawmaker.

A few leaders including former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar and former lawmaker Sardar Shakhawat Hossain Bakul yesterday met Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan at his Gulshan residence.

Several party leaders including Vice-Chairman MK Anwar, Adviser to the Chairperson Mofazzal Karim Chowdhury and party Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan visited the Hawa Bhaban.

Protesting the detention of Tarique Rahman, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) brought out a procession on the Dhaka University campus yesterday morning, violating the emergency rule in the country.

However, they left the scene within minutes as police chased them.

The police and intelligence men cordoned the campus after the incident.

Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal Bogra district unit formed a human chain and brought out a rally in the town to protest Tarique's arrest.