BNP takes up fresh protest programmes

BNP yesterday announced a countrywide programme to protest the government notice asking party Chairperson Khaleda Zia to leave her Dhaka cantonment residence, and ''cancellation" of parole for her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko.
The party will hold protest rallies in all the seven divisional headquarters on October 20 with the rally in the capital to be held at Muktangon. Similar rallies will be held at the district towns on October 24 and at upazila headquarters on October 27.
Secretary General of the party Khandaker Delwar Hossain announced the programme at a pre-procession rally at Muktangaon.
Terming this government "autocratic rulers" Delwar said, "BNP will continue democratic programmes until its fall."
He alleged the government wants to bring back home Khaleda's sons Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko, and put them on farcical trial.
Both Tarique and Koko are now abroad.
Referring to the High Court verdict that upheld the government notice on Wednesday, Delwar alleged this government is trying to use the higher courts to execute its plot to evict Khaleda Zia from her house.
The Supreme Court on the same day stayed for six weeks an HC judgement extending parole for Koko by 20 days.
The BNP rally at Muktangaon yesterday protested the "plot" centring Khaldea's house, oppression on opposition leaders and workers, failure to control prices of essentials and government bid to influence the judiciary. Sadeque Hossain Khoka was in the chair.
After the rally, hundreds of leaders and workers of the party and its associate bodies joined a procession that marched through different city streets.
Delwar said at the rally the government has completely failed to run the country. So, it (govt) is out to destroy BNP and the family of its chairperson with the goal of assuming state power again without any competition.
Party leaders who participated in the rally and procession included Rafiqul Islam Mia, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Abdullah Al Noman and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and Fazlur Rahman Patal.