BNP to stage demos in cities today

BNP will stage demonstrations in all metropolitan cities and district towns today, protesting a Dhaka court verdict which awarded the party's Chairperson Khaleda Zia seven years of rigorous imprisonment.

The verdict was passed illegally to keep the BNP chairperson out of politics and elections, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told journalists at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan headquarters yesterday.

Terming the verdict “dictated”, Fakhrul alleged that Khaleda has been convicted as per the government's “desire” to keep her away from the next general election.

“Khaleda Zia has been convicted illegally without any document and witness in a fabricated case, out of political vengeance to keep her away from politics. The dictated verdict was given so that she [Khaleda] can't take part in the upcoming election,” the BNP leader said.

He alleged that the government's wish and the ministers' remarks about the case have been reflected in the verdict.

Fakhrul questioned the validity of the verdict, as it was given in absence of an ailing Khaleda Zia.