As part of their scheduled programme, BNP leaders and activists demonstrated across the country on Wednesday protesting the conviction of their chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.
In Barisal, police reportedly arrested at least five leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies, after the party’s human chain program in the city in the morning.
The arrestees were identified as Mahfuz Alam Khan Mithu, Barisal district unit Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) president, Obaydul Islam Shaon, Lelin Khan Morshed, the JCD activists, Naimul Islam Prince and B H Rimon, Barisal City unit Swesccha Sebok Dal activists.
Witnesses said police attacked and chased the BNP men after they formed a rally protesting Khaleda’s verdict.
The police arrested the five leaders and foiled the programme when they attended the function.
Local BNP leader Mojibor Rahman Sarwar claimed police arrested the BNP leaders and activists even though they were holding a peaceful rally.
Nurul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police station, said the five youths were arrested for blocking road during office hours.
In Jamalpur, the district unit BNP formed a human chain at Station Bazar intersection in the morning protesting the verdict.
Among others, BNP leader Wares Ali Mamun, Amjad Hossain , Shahidul Haque Dulal, Lokman Ahmed Liton, Liakat Ali and Ruhul Amin spoke on the occasion.
The speakers said there would be no election without Khaleda Zia and demanded her immediate release.
In Bogra, leaders and activists of Bogra district unit BNP organized a rally on the Nawab Bari road in the town around 11am.
Local BNP leader Joynal Abedin Chan, Md Shokrana, Ali Ajgar, Lovely Rahman, Rezaul Karim Badsha, Jane Alam Khoka, MR Islam Sadhin , Parimol Chandra Das addressed the function presided over by the district unit BNP President Saiful Islam.
Zia Charitable Trust corruption case verdict has been passed illegally to keep the chairperson away from politics and elections, , they said.
On Monday BNP declared the protest programmes at district headquarters and major towns across the country against the verdict by a Dhaka court which awarded the party's Chairperson Khaleda Zia seven years of rigorous imprisonment.