Khaleda for release of Jamaat trio

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia demanded immediate release of top Jamaat leaders last night and termed their arrests "a heinous example of political repression in an autocratic manner".
She condemned the arrests and urged the government to keep from repressing the opposition.
"The countrymen witnessed intimacy between the ruling party [Awami League] and Jamaat at different times in the past. But no sooner had Jamaat come forward to support BNP's political programmes, Awami League chose the means of repression, which is unacceptable to any man of conscious," she said in a written statement signed by her Press Secretary Maruf Kamal Khan.
The statement was issued right after the party's standing committee meeting started and was approved by the committee before sending it to the press. Khaleda Zia chaired the committee meeting.
Sources said the party leaders discussed the latest political situation including the arrests of top Jamaat leaders and decided in principle to announce more anti-government movement soon.
The BNP chairperson in her statement urged the government to lift any ban imposed on the peaceful activities of the political parties legal by the law and constitution.
Khaleda also denied her party's link with the arson and vandalism on the eve of the hartal day and expressed her sympathy for the victims.
"No BNP activist was involved in the mysterious incidents of arson and vandalism at some places in the capital. Those who had earlier displayed their capability of torching bus using gunpowder can commit such sabotage," said the leader of the opposition in parliament.
The former premier demanded release of her party leaders Mirza Abbas, Shamser Mobin Chowdhury and Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee, who were arrested on the hartal day.
She urged the government to take punitive measure against those involved in the attacks on Anee and Abbas' house that day.
Khaleda also demanded release of ward councillor Chowdhury Alam who according to BNP, was picked by plain-clothes Rab personnel on the hartal eve.
She urged all to unite against "fascism" as she thinks the government has put the country's democracy at stake.