The relatives of the recently sentenced and arrested leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan for their release.
A list of names of 89 BNP national leaders and senior leaders who have been sentenced to prison terms and formal verdicts has been added to the memorandum.
Afroza Abbas, wife of jailed Mirza Abbas, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, submitted the memorandum through lawyers, on behalf of the relatives of the imprisoned opposition leaders.
In the two-page memorandum, it was mentioned that amid an unbearable situation in the current political reality of Bangladesh, the family members of the jailed opposition political leaders and activists were forced to approach the chief justice, the last resort of justice for the justice seekers.
"We believe, as the guardian of the judiciary, you (chief justice) will play a leading role in protecting the country's judiciary, establishing an independent judiciary and establishing justice,” the relatives said in the memorandum.
They also expected that the chief justice would play a proactive role in preventing the crackdown and repression of the opposition leaders and activists, their mass arrests in false, fictitious and harassment cases by law enforcers, torture during police remand, wholesale sentence by the courts and refusal of bail.
“We request you to take necessary steps and give necessary instructions to the courts for the immediate release of the BNP and other opposition political prisoners,” the relatives said.
Earlier, the family members of the jailed BNP leaders and activists formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club around 10:30am, demanding the release of the opposition leaders from jail.
Many were seen holding placards and portraits of their loved ones who have been staying in jails.
They chanted various slogans for the unconditional release of their relatives In the human chain program organized by Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, BNP's women's wing.
Speaking at the program some of the relatives spoke about their pain and suffering in the absence of their loved ones.
Many of them broke down in tears, creating a heart-rendering situation there.
After the program, when the relatives of the jailed BNP leaders, led by Afroza Abbas, started moving towards the chief justice’s office to submit the memorandum police obstructed them.
Later, it was sent to the chief justice through some lawyers.
Afroza Abbas, who came to the program in a wheelchair, slammed the government for continuing the arrest of the BNP leaders and workers and repression of them.
“We are living in a suffocating situation. What kind of country is this? A jailed leader’s wife came here with her two children. The children's father was taken to the jail by police. We are not getting even the minimum benefit of the law,” she said.
Mahila Dal General Secretary Sultana Ahmed read out a letter sent by Rahat Ara in the human chain.
Rahima Shahjahan Maya, the wife of former MP and BNP Vice Chairman Mohammad Shahjahan, said: "My husband was sentenced to two years’ jail without any crime. Many such opposition leaders and activists are being sentenced and imprisoned. Bangladesh has been turned into a prison. We want to get rid of it.”
BNP Standing Committee member Selima Rahman said the mothers, fathers, wives, daughters, sons and other relatives of the jailed opposition leaders are crying. Still, it will not shake the heart of this government." They are putting opposition party leaders and workers in jails just to maintain their illegal power.”
“We want this situation to end. Let’s get united and take to the streets to put an end to this situation by ousting the current regime,” she said.
Leaders of different political parties also spoke at the program, urging the government to immediately release the opposition leaders and workers from jail.