BNP calls countrywide demo again tomorrow
Accusing the government of obstructing its yesterday’s scheduled programmes at different places, BNP again announced countrywide demonstrations for tomorrow, demanding release of its chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.
The party’s senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made the announcement at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office yesterday.
“We will again stage demonstrations and bring out processions in all metropolitan cities, including Dhaka, and the district towns on Tuesday, demanding our leader Khaleda Zia’s unconditional release,” he said.
On Saturday, the party announced similar programme for yesterday to press for the same demand.
Rizvi said law enforcers and ruling party “cadres” attacked their party’s scheduled programme yesterday at different parts of the country, and arrested some party leaders and activists.
He said “armed” ruling party activists with the help of police attacked their party’s procession in Sirajganj and set fire to their office in the district.
The BNP leader strongly condemned the attacks, and demanded the government take action against those involved in the incidents.
“We also demand the immediate release of those arrested,” he said.
Rizvi voiced concern that relatives of Khaleda Zia have not been allowed to meet her for 25 days.
As per the jail code, he said, relatives can meet a prisoner after every seven days, but the BNP chief’s relatives could not meet her after November 13, as jail authorities are not giving them permission, he further alleged.
The BNP leader urged jail authorities to allow Khaleda’s relatives to meet her immediately.
Khaleda has been in jail since being convicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. She was found guilty in another corruption case later the same year, though her party claims both cases are politically motivated.
The BNP chief has been receiving treatment at the BSMMU since April 1 this year.
Rizvi said their party extended its support to the ongoing movement by workers of state-owned jute mills across Bangladesh. He urged the government to immediately accept the justified demands of the workers.
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